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A little background
If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit Cincinnati, OH, you’ll be amazed at the history of the downtown area and one of the country’s great Art Deco train stations located nearby.
Cincinnati was part of the Northwest Territory that Congress created in 1787. The governor of the Northwest Territory was General Arthur St. Clair. He had fought alongside George Washington and was at the Battle of Yorktown with him when Lord Cornwallis surrendered, ending the British hold over the American colonies. After he was appointed governor, St. Clair chose the name Cincinnati in honor of the Society of Cincinnati, a patriotic organization founded in 1783 by Continental Army officers who had served together during the Revolutionary War.
Cincinnati Union Terminal
If you wish to visit Cincinnati Union Terminal and you’re already in downtown Cincinnati, you can actually walk if you feel so inclined. The distance is just over two miles. But whether you walk, drive or take a bus, you’ll be greeted by the sight of a unique half-dome limestone building, ten stories high, fronted by a handsome plaza with a fountain spilling water that flows down scalloped tiers into a pool.
When Union Terminal was completed in 1933, it became the country’s most elegant Art Deco train station. Once inside, your eye will be drawn to the spectacular mosaic murals, but the Art Deco influence is everywhere, giving the feeling that you’ve stepped back in time. Train travel was at its zenith in the first half of the 20th century, but as it fell off during the second half, terminal traffic declined, and the building stood empty for several years. However, Union Terminal was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1977. In 1986, a bond levy kicked off efforts to save the iconic station from demolition.
The rehabilitation of Union Terminal that was completed in 2018 took two-and-a-half years, cost $228 million and used the expertise of craftspeople along with skilled workers. It involved not only structural improvements but also visual improvements, such as the rehabilitation of thousands of terracotta tiles on the ramp structures and the careful cleaning of 22 canvas murals in the Losantiville Dining Room.
The Museum Center
Since 1990, Union Terminal has been home to The Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC), a complex of museums that includes an OMNIMAX® Theater. A fun and educational visit all the way around, you and your family can not only enjoy the Art Deco terminal building itself, but also museum exhibits, programs and events. While not part of the museum experience, you may want to try whispering in the so-called Whispering Gallery. Here, two people can stand at the water fountains, which are almost 100 feet apart, and the softest sounds will carry across the expanse as if you were simply having a normal conversation. The curved design of the capacious rotunda allows for this phenomenon.
Dining suggestions
Downtown Cincinnati has no lack of places to eat and drink and you’ll find something for everyone as you stroll around town. More than a few eating/drinking establishments have a connection to the area’s past. Taft’s Ale House on Race Street in the Over-the-Rhine section of town is located inside a former church. You can still see the old bell tower. The brewpub is named in honor of one-time Cincinnati resident and the 27th president of the United States, William Howard Taft.
Although the 49-story Carew Tower is a notable example of Art Deco design, Hathaway’s Diner on the ground floor immerses diners in the 1950s. Even the waitresses sport ‘50s-style clothing as they serve breakfast and lunch.
For dinner, consider the Metropole restaurant at the 21c Museum Hotel. Here you’ll find a range of tempting dishes from a NY Strip Steak to Herb Brined Chicken.
Accommodations
The unique 21c Museum Hotel is an award-winning boutique hotel, part of a venue that includes a contemporary art museum. This reimagined version of the 100-year-old Metropole Hotel is near both the Contemporary Art Center and the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
Another stylish hotel is the Holiday Inn & Suites Cincinnati Downtown on Broadway. Close to Fountain Square, this hotel is also within walking distance of the Findlay Market and the Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds.
Whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple or as a family, there are lodging choices to suit your needs in downtown Cincinnati. Just check for availability.
Getting there
Cincinnati International Airport is actually located across the Ohio River in Kentucky, but the drive from the airport to the downtown area only takes 20-25 minutes. The average cost of a taxi will be about $34. However, you might also consider the Airporter Bus which runs every 30 minutes. A single bus ticket costs $1.50. Cincinnati is a popular destination, and several airlines offer nonstop service—even from as far away as London.
Enjoy your visit as you travel into history!