Photograph by Carlie Burton
Depending on who you ask, Vent Haven Museum is either Northern Kentucky’s best- or worst-kept secret. As the world’s only museum dedicated to ventriloquism, the 4,000-square-foot space draws a dedicated following of pilgrims from across the globe. Founder William Shakespeare Berger’s personal collection (at least 500 dummies and puppets) rapidly outgrew his home, but the founder couldn’t have possibly anticipated the newest home for his collection. The $1.2 million upgrade, which debuted this spring, outfitted a brand-new building with museum-quality lighting and climate control, plus the pièce de résistance, the Jeff Dunham Theater, a sleek performance and education space funded by the legendary ventriloquist and longtime Vent Haven devotee. “[Before], we were doing the best that we could,” says curator Lisa Sweasy. “But it’s really great knowing that we’re now properly caring for everything.”
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