Located in Butler County, Ohio, about 25 miles north of Cincinnati, the facility was constructed by the U.S. government during World War II, to broadcast news and information to Europe and South America beginning in 1943.

This facility and others were constructed after President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized the urgent need to increase U.S. shortwave radio capacity to broadcast information overseas.

Roosevelt created the Office of War Information to counter government-controlled radio programs sponsored by Hitler, Mussolini and Japanese governments that spread messages of hate and propaganda.

At that time, transmitters operating in Massachusetts, Long Island and New Jersey were vulnerable to attack from German submarines or invading forces.

Although WLWO provided Crosley Corp. with some familiarity with overseas broadcasts, the urgent timeline to construct Bethany Station pushed employees into new technological territory, requiring much larger and more powerful transmitters and antennas.

Striving for high efficiency and better-quality sound transmission over equipment powerful enough to reach Europe, Mediterranean countries, and South Africa, all efforts would be wasted unless the listeners could receive, hear and understand the broadcasts.

Eventually, Crosley employees were gratified by their efforts – its reputation for reliable, clearer transmissions over a variable schedule infuriated Adolf Hitler, who referred to the station as “those Zinzinnati Liars.” The first broadcast aired in September 1944.

Bethany Station rebroadcast Winston Churchill’s May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe speech over the course of several days; unlike the BBC or AFN, who did not believe they had enough power to reach Germany.

Highlights covering the Crosley Brothers’ innovations in radio and television broadcasting, national defense and the American consumer economy is featured, as well as a unique STEM lab with hands-on demonstrations.