Tag Archives: Union terminal

Cincinnati History Museum

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The Cincinnati History Museum is just one of the museums inside the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The most striking feature here is Public Landing, an imagined landing with a riverboat and cobblestone streets that take you to a photography studio, a dressmaker and an apothocary. Step aboard the boat and explore inside the buildings to learn about life in this river city in the 1860s.

Vintage advertising pieces, a streetcar, and items made in Cincinnati provide insight into the city’s history as well as life in America. Another special thing here is an intricate model of Cincinnati in the forties complete with trains. The kiddos especially love this and I could have stood there all day too.

If you’ve been following along here, you know that these museums are housed in Union Terminal, a gorgeous art deco train station that’s worth a visit. In fact, if you’re looking for rainy day fun, a reprieve from the summer heat, or if you just like museums, the Cincinnati Museum Center is a terrific destination for a day trip.

Details

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Union Terminal in Cincinnati was designed with an attention to detail that simply isn’t found much in modern architecture.

There’s a lot to unpack in the above picture- the lights, the jaw dropping mosaic tile artwork, the ceiling, the marble and the font on the directional sign “to trains” are all worthy of our study.

The space is both grandiose and simplistic. Ornate and streamlined. That’s the thing about art deco style – they keep the lines clean but make a big statement!

It’s a showstopper, isn’t it? Come back tomorrow. We will visit one of the museums that lives in this building!

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

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Tucked in the corner of the Cincinnati Union Terminal Museum Center is a nondescript door that leads into something unexpectedly special.

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor feels like an art deco time capsule. That’s because it’s decorated with Rookwood Pottery tile. This iconic handmade tile comes from the Cincinnati based pottery that was founded in 1880. It’s world renowned pottery that can often be found in fine public buildings, in many historic homes, and even the New York City Subway.

This space was originally a tea room and later a home for the USO when World War II troop trains rolled through the city. Now they serve ice cream treats to museum goers and Amtrak travelers.

My only regret is that we didn’t stay and order some ice cream. Another day.

Here’s a closer look at the tile.

Isn’t it fantastic?