I made a New Year’s Resolution that I would travel more in 2023, and I’ve definitely found at least one destination.
And at the very top of that list is a visit to this incredible Bob Ross Museum in Muncie, Indiana. In case you have lived under a rock for the last 40 years, I’ll take a brief moment to introduce you to one of the world’s most beloved people.
Bob Ross was hugely popular. His show was carried by around 95% of all public tv stations in the U.S. which allowed The Joy of Painting to reach viewers in a staggering 93.5 million homes. Outside of the country, the show was also a hit in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, South Korea, and Turkey.
The Joy of Painting ran new seasons on PBS from 1983 to 1994. Ross did the series entirely for free, although he did earn income from Bob Ross Inc, which sold art supplies and how-to videotapes, taught classes, and more.
Bob Ross inspired generations of people with his gentle demeanor and his paintings. The Joy of Painting, his global sensation of a television show, was filmed in the historic Lucius L. Ball home.
Now that former studio has been transformed into the Bob Ross Experience. Visitors can stop by to see Bob’s art and take a closer look at the space where he created so many fantastic episodes of his show.
The experience is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 per adult and $12 per child ages 12 and under. Kids 3 & under are free. The museum is about 2 and a half hours from Columbus, and you can get started planning your trip here.
