Downtown :: Noteworthy

Among the many noteworthy places in Downtown Cincinnati are a number of outstanding museums. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center hosts exhibits that "tell the story of the struggle for freedom in the United States." Located on the Ohio River, the geographical barrier that separated the free states from the slave states, the museum is dedicated to telling the dramatic story of those who crossed the river and escaped to freedom on "the Underground Railroad" created by those who hated slavery.

Nearby on the riverfront at Great American Ball Park is the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. A must-see for baseball fans, the museum features permanent exhibits about the Reds, and special exhibits such as Crosley Field Remembered and "The Negro Leagues and Cincinnati," a joint exhibit with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

The Richard and Lois Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art is housed in a stunning building in the heart of Downtown designed by architect Zaha Hadid. It features ever-changing exhibits of Contemporary Art, and contains the Unmuseum for children.  The Taft Museum of Art opened in 1932 and was renovated in 2004. It is considered one of the finest small art museums in the nation. Further uptown, the Fire Museum exhibits over 200 years of fire fighting history, with everything from an 1808 fire drum to a modern fire engine cab.

Although technically in nearby Queensgate, the Cincinnati Museum Center is only a mile from Downtown. Housed in Union Terminal, itself an art deco masterpiece built in 1933, the Museum Center includes the Cincinnati History Museum, the Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, and an Omnimax Theater.

Downtown is also home to three libraries. The main branch of the Hamilton County Public Library is housed in two large buildings connected by a bridge.

The Lloyd Library is a botanical library originating from the pharmacological collections of John Uri Lloyd and his brothers. And the Mercantile Library, a membership library begun in 1835, has a substantial collection of literary works and hosts many cultural events featuring famous writers and scholars.