After my visit, I couldn’t tell you what was more fascinating: the historic building, the eclectic exhibit, or the owner himself. Each is worth a visit on its own, but the three-in-one package is the real deal.
I hadn’t heard of the Darl Center until I met the owner, Darl Schaaff, at the Ohio Museums Association conference. We happened to be in the same meeting and struck up a conversation. I was immediately intrigued by his background and asked Darl if we could arrange a private tour for me to experience the space firsthand.
The museum has an interesting history, originally built as a branch of the Andrew Carnegie Library in Cleveland’s Slavic Village. Known then as the Free Broadway Library, it served the community until 1988, after which it sat vacant for many years. It took someone with a specific vision to see its potential.
Before Darl purchased the building to house his life’s work, he spent decades traveling the world, branching out from his long-time home in Alaska. His life story reads like an adventure novel; he has been a ballet dancer, a martial arts champion, a fashion designer, and a high-end event planner. This diverse background is reflected in every corner of the museum.
The building itself is a masterpiece of design—a unique ten-sided structure featuring a stunning 42-foot-tall rotunda inside. It provides a grand, atmospheric backdrop for a collection that is as international as it is personal. The bottom floor is a theater often used to host events, and the museum is upstairs.
When Darl met me for the tour, we spent two hours exploring the space. As we moved through the gallery, he wove together stories about the objects, his life, and his travels. While a self-guided tour would be interesting, it wouldn’t offer the same depth. He specifically tailored our time together to focus on pieces that were interesting to explore through touch. With a collection of over 400 items, there is far more than one could ever truly see in a single afternoon.
I had the opportunity to tactilely explore intricate Chinese carvings, a delicate dress crafted from birch bark, one of ballet shoes and a replica of an Alaskan totem pole. His Alaskan collection was particularly striking; I handled the bones of sea animals, a whale’s baleen, and the skin of a bear—I truly had no idea their claws were so massive.
Many of these objects were things I never imagined I’d have the chance to touch, or even knew existed. In fact, some are entirely unique because Darl created them himself. It was two hours of pure fascination—a gentleman illustrating his world with story after story. It felt as though he could keep you entertained for weeks if you had the time to stay.
As I often find in my travels, this is one of those hidden gems where there is an abundance of tactile experience, even if it isn’t officially advertised as a “tactile collection.” I will certainly be adding it to my list of tactile museums. While it isn’t set up for a blind person to navigate as a self-guided experience—partly because Darl curated the selection for me and partly because the context is so vital—it is a perfect example of how much more meaningful an exhibit becomes with the right description. Simply touching the objects one by one wouldn’t be enough; it is the explanation that makes them make perfect sense.
Next time you find yourself in Cleveland, I highly recommend making an appointment. It is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Thank you Darl for the amazing tour!
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