Built to Last
As we move into the bisesquicentennial – and we should absolutely take every chance we can to use that word while we can – we can all enjoy a bit of Cincinnati history.
From politics to industry to the arts, Cincinnati has long held a place in the national conversation, inspiring generations to aim higher and go farther.
Steamboat Monument
E. Mehring Way and Broadway
Cincinnati’s history is tied to the Ohio River, from the flatboats of the 1700s to the river industry that propelled the city’s growth in the 19th century, leading the city to become one of the major steamboat capitals of America.
This history is honored by the the National Steamboat Monument at Sawyer Point. Thie bold, musical, and mist-filled homage to its steamboat legacy. Unveiled in 2002 and designed by sound-sculpture architect Christopher Janney, the monument combines steel, steam, and sound in a way that’s more interactive art installation than a static memorial.
Music Hall
1241 Elm St.
This iconic building is home to the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and May Festival.
Music Hall is a historic landmark, originally created to be a convention center, and quickly became a space for a multitude of activities, including sporting events, exhibits, and circuses, among other things. Internationally acclaimed artists continued to visit the venue, establishing its reputation for incredible music. The hall closed for renovations during 2016-17, and has been thriving in the blooming OTR neighborhood.
Music Hall continues to change innovate, as it is home this Summer to Cincinnati Opera’s inaugural production in the Black Opera Project, “Lalovavi,” and as a focal point of BLINK, the nation’s largest public art event.
Rhinegeist
1910 Elm St.
By the mid-1800s, 36 breweries produced more than 30 million gallons of beer in Cincinnati, much of it served in the 1,800 saloons that were open by 1890. The brewing heritage runs deep – literally, with lagering tunnels dug underneath the breweries and still open for tours.
That spirit is kept alive today in a number of revived local breweries, including Rhinegeist. Meaning “Spirit of the Rhine,” this craft brewery and cidery is housed in the historic site of the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company. Moerlein was the largest Cincinnati brewery of the 19th century, so Rhinegeist is both preserving and carrying on the city’s great beer traditions.
Neil Armstrong
The first man who walked on the moon is immortalized on a mural located on Fifth Third Bank Headquarters along Walnut Street.
Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, attended Purdue University, and became a naval aviator from 1949 to 1952. He later earned a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California as well as honorary doctorates from several universities. Armstrong left NASA in August 1971 to become professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, a post he held until 1979. He was decorated by 17 countries and received numerous special honors.
William Howard Taft Birthplace
2038 Auburn Ave.
Located in Mount Auburn, the birthplace and childhood home of William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The site features two main buildings – Taft’s family home, restored to look as it did during William’s childhood and the Visitor Center.
William Howard Taft National Historic Site preserves the birthplace and boyhood home of William Howard Taft, the nation's 27th President and 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The site was established in 1969 to give visitors an understanding of the environment that shaped Taft's character and philosophy. We encourage visitors to explore the stories and articles listed on this page to learn more about the "Gentle Giant" and the Cincinnati area in which he grew up.
Statue of James A. Garfield
Piatt Park, 801-811 Vine St
Ohio native, U.S. Army general, U.S. Representative, and the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield took the oath of office in March 1881, was shot by an assassin in July and died in September. Cincinnati-born sculptor Charles Henry Niehaus paid tribute to Garfield, designing the statue in 1883 for its placement in Piatt Park, the city’s oldest park.
Statue of William Henry Harrison (
Joining Garfield’s statue is one honoring William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States and the first of eight American presidents from Ohio. Sculpted and designed by Louis T. Rebisso of the Cincinnati School of Art, the statue was unveiled in Piatt Park on May 30, 1986 and is the only equestrian statue in Cincinnati.
– Ella Sander