Special Programs & Events

Cincinnati Museum Center Heritage Programs has been presenting historical, cultural and architectural tours for over 20 years. As an outreach association of the Cincinnati Historical Society, the docents of the all-volunteer Cincinnati Heritage Programs has unlocked doors to privately owned places generally not open to the public. All topics are thoroughly researched for accuracy.

Each month, Heritage Programs offers scheduled tours of unique sites of local or regional interest. All tours include lunch unless specified. All bus tours depart from the front of Cincinnati Museum Center. There are no refunds after the registration deadline. To register for a tour, call (513) 287-7031. Please note that payment must be received at the time of booking. For more information about the Heritage Program Tours, send an e-mail to: heritageprograms@cincymuseum.org.

Heritage Programs is committed to providing access for all individuals attending our programs, activities and events. Those needing information about alternative formats or other assistance should make that request at the time the reservation is made.

Executive Charter is the official carrier for Cincinnati Heritage Programs public tours.

Union Terminal Tours (Free and open to the public.)

Ongoing, every Saturday at 12, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Discover one of Cincinnati's National Historic Landmarks, Cincinnati Museum Center's home, Union Terminal. Learn details about the would-famous mosaic murals and why Union Terminal is one of the finest examples of Art Deco style. Docents provide complimentary tours every Saturday at 12, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Tours also can be scheduled for groups any time during the week at a small fee with an advance reservation.

The Cincinnati Tour       

Saturday, March 27, 9 a.m. to noon

Upon visiting the Queen City in 1932, Winston Churchill
proclaimed Cincinnati the most beautiful inland city in the United States. See Fountain Square, downtown landmarks, the public landing and some of the earliest neighborhoods that give our city its distinctive charm. Enjoy a visit to some of the seven hills of Cincinnati. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $40 members, $45 non-members

Registration Deadline: March 23

The Treasures of the Queen City

Saturday, April 10, 9:30 to 1 p.m.

Museum Center’s Geier Collections & Research Center is the repository of our city’s historic objects and fine art. Visit a treasure trove of Cincinnati memorabilia with David Conzett, curator of history objects. This is a rare opportunity to view the collections, not normally open to the public. This tour has some steps with standing throughout the morning. No purses or personal items allowed. A snack will be served. Lunch is not included. This event is limited to 25 guests.

Fee: $30 members, $35 non-members

Registration Deadline: April 5

SOLD OUT

Over-the-Rhine Historic Breweries          

Friday, April 16, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At the turn of the 20th century, Cincinnati was the beer brewing capital of the U.S. Explore several of the former late 19th and early 20th-century breweries that were located in Over-the-Rhine. Visit Christian Moerlein’s icehouse, office building and home of the son of Christian Moerlein. Explore the architecture, tunnels and cellars of old brewery buildings. Have lunch in the oldest bar in Cincinnati. There is considerable walking and standing throughout the day. Some areas are dark with steps and uneven walking surfaces. Sturdy shoes and handheld flashlights are required. Release forms must be signed on the morning of the tour. Buildings are not handicapped accessible.

Fee: $75 members, $80 non-members

Registration Deadline: April 8

Greater Cincinnati Geology  

Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Find out why this region is world-famous for its Ordovician fossils.
Dr. Brenda Hunda, curator of invertebrate paleontology will lead this tour, beginning with a presentation on the region’s geology and a walk-through of the Museum of Natural History & Science’s Ice Age exhibit. View the dynamic topography of the Cincinnati Basin from the Carew Tower Observation Deck. Hear why Cincinnati has one of the largest, per capita, landslide mitigation costs in the U.S. Bring a bag to collect fossils at the Trammel Fossil Park. This tour has steps and hillsides to climb. Wear sturdy shoes and dress accordingly.

Fee: $70 members, $75 non-members

Registration Deadline: April 20

SOLD OUT

Subway Talk and Walk    

Saturday, May 1, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m.

Hear the fascinating history of Cincinnati’s Rapid Transit Subway tunnel, intact since 1928. Then enter the subway for a five-block walk underground. The “talk and walk” lasts approximately two hours. Be aware that the tunnel is dark and dusty. Walking surfaces are uneven and may be muddy with standing water. Sturdy shoes and a handheld flashlight are required. Release forms and notification of the meeting site will be mailed upon registration. No cameras or headlamps permitted for safety reasons. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $50 members, $55 non-members

Registration Deadline: April 5

Cincinnati’s Garden of Eden  

Wednesday, May 19, 9 a.m. to noon

The father of American wine making, Nicholas Longworth, once owned much of 186-acre Eden Park. On this morning stroll, learn about its notable history and landscape architecture. View its public artwork and the Krohn Conservatory. Hear how Cincinnati became the “Queen of the West in her garlands dressed.” Lunch is not included.

Fee: $25 members, $30 non-members

Registration Deadline: May 13

Barnstorming to Business at Lunken Airport  

Saturday, May 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lunken Airport is not only the location of Cincinnati’s first pioneer settlement it is the site of the largest municipal airport
completed in 1930. Hear stories of its early 1920s barnstorming days, becoming the birthplace of Aeronca and Flamingo Aircraft companies along with the founding of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Discover how the aviation complex, hosting the region’s significant private and business operations, is vital to the region’s economy. Visit historic hangers and the private aircraft companies that use them for their maintenance and operations.

Fee: $70 members, $75 non-members

Registration Deadline: May 14

Big Bone Lick State Park  

Friday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

President Thomas Jefferson asked explorers Lewis and Clark to bring back animal remains from Big Bone Lick, now considered the “Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology.” Dr. Glenn Storrs, Withrow Farney curator of vertebrate paleontology, leads us through the trails of the Kentucky State Park while interpreting the Ice Age events that have preserved the fossilized remains of mastodons, wooly mammoths and ground sloths. This tour involves long periods of standing and hiking up hills and through woods on uneven and wet trails. Dress accordingly.

Fee: $70 members, $75 non-members 

Registration Deadline: May 28

The Verdin Company  

Thursday, June 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Since 1842, six generations of the Verdin family and craftsmen have produced the finest cast bronze bells for church spires and clock towers for universities, businesses and town squares throughout the world. Tour their historic Bell and Clock Museum at the renovated St. Paul Church in the downtown Pendleton district. Visit the newly installed Veteran’s Tribute Tower in Green Township Park. Travel to Lawrenceburg to see their Bicentennial Monument celebrating our service heroes. At Covington’s Mainstrasse glockenspiel, hear the story of the Pied Piper, and in Newport, explore the World Peace Bell.

Fee: $75 members, $80 non-members

Registration Deadline: June 3

Black Entrepreneurs of the 19th Century    

Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Before the Civil War, Cincinnati was a crossroads on the Underground Railroad and the political struggle for recognition of free African-Americans during one of our country’s most turbulent times. Walk along 4th Street and meet interpreters of four “free” African-Americans who will share their experiences, talents, accomplishments and ambitions. Meet respected photographer, John Presley Ball, and hairdresser to the wealthy, Eliza Potter. There will be long periods of standing during the morning. A snack will be served but lunch is not included.

Fee: $40 members, $45 non-members

Registration Deadline: June 15

Union Terminal in the 1940s  

Thursday, July 1, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Experience Union Terminal during 1940s when the Rotunda was filled with service men and women departing for assignments during World War II. Visit the USO and the other amenities that were offered to soldiers. Learn about the era with a presentation in the Newsreel Theater. Discover what was happening on the home front with an interpreted tour of the World War II exhibit. Meet the secretary for the President of Union Terminal as she takes you on a tour of their Art Deco offices. Before you meet the train, enjoy a 1940s-style lunch taken from an authentic Union Terminal menu in the original dining room.

Fee: $40 members, $45 non-members

Registration Deadline: June 23

Rookwood Pottery   

Wednesday, July 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Since 1880, Rookwood Pottery has been the
hallmark of art pottery throughout the world. Learn about its celebrated history with information on glazes, artists and renowned art pottery. Visit the new home of Rookwood Pottery in Over-the-Rhine, which houses the offices, studios, and production center. Talk to the artists currently developing new art pieces and pottery installations for homes and institutions. View Rookwood art pieces at the Cincinnati Art Museum with the curatorial expert. Visit St. Ursula Convent’s museum, which was home to Maria Longworth Storer for several years.

Fee: $70 members, $75 non-members

Registration Deadline: July 7

Union Terminal Photo Shoot      

Sunday, August 22, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Attention photography enthusiasts! This is your opportunity to take
pictures of Union Terminal after visiting hours. Capture photographs of areas not routinely open to the public such as the restored President’s Office, The Cincinnati and Losantiville Dining Rooms and the original Men’s Lounge, now the Amtrak Waiting Room. Visit Tower A, once the main control tower for Cincinnati Union Terminal where the Train Director managed all incoming and outgoing trains. Also, the balcony will be available for shooting the Grand Rotunda. Attending a free weekend Union Terminal Rotunda Tour will enhance the experience of this event. 

Fee: $25 members, $30 non-members

Registration Deadline: August 17

Starry, Starry Night

Wednesday, August 25, 7 to 9:30 p.m.

View the summer sky through the world’s oldest operational telescope at the Cincinnati Observatory, the birthplace of American astronomy. Enjoy the evening with wine and cheese and learn why President Adams laid the Observatory’s original cornerstone in Mt. Adams in 1843, and why the Observatory was moved to its present site in 1873. On a tour of this National Historic Landmark, discover how 19th-century astronomers determined time for Cincinnati and how the first U.S. weather prediction was achieved.

Fee: $30 members, $35 non-members

Registration Deadline: August 18

The Oxbow of the Great Miami River      

Saturday, September 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Explore the confluence of the Great Miami and Ohio Rivers, renowned for sightings of more than 284 avian species. Learn from a geologist about the ever-changing floodplain. In Shawnee Lookout Park, hear an archaeologist’s insight on the Native American hilltop earthwork and recent excavations of nearby sites. A member of Oxbow will describe the flora and fauna while guiding us through areas of the 2500-acre wetlands. Bring a camera and binoculars for possible sightings of double-crested cormorants and Bald Eagles. Tour involves walking on gravel roads and climbing on maintained trails.

Fee: $70 members, $75 non-members

Registration Deadline: September 6

Small Museums Preserving Cincinnati History

Thursday, September 23, 9 am to 4:30 p.m.

Visit the Betts House, built in 1804, recognized as the oldest brick home still standing on its original site in the State of Ohio. Travel to the Harriett Beecher Stowe House completed in 1833 for her father, Rev. Lyman Beecher and his large family of prominent religious and civic leaders. Next stop will be the Price Hill Historical Society Museum brimming with memorabilia and artifacts of one of Cincinnati’s earliest suburbs. After lunch, explore the German Heritage Museum dedicated to the history and achievements of German-Americans in the Cincinnati area and located in the original log home built by the Philip Feist family in 1840.

Fee: $70 members, $75 non-members

Registration Deadline: September 16

SOLD OUT

The Crosleys and the American Dream

Tuesday, October 12, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The inventive genius of Powell Crosley and his engineer brother, Lewis, afforded the masses, the radio, the Shelvador refrigerator and the Crosley Car among their numerous inventions.  Take a tour of WLW-TV, Cincinnati’s first television station and newsroom. Visit Pinecroft, the Crosley mansion located in Mt. Airy. At the Voice of America Museum in Mason, containing the Gray Wireless Museum, hear the history of what led to WLW becoming the Nation’s Station with the most powerful output in the world. Learn how the 50,000-watt radio and Crosley’s cooperation with the U.S. government assisted the World War II effort in bringing news to Europeans. This tour has a lot of walking, steps, and standing throughout the day and is not handicapped accessible.

Fee: $75 members, $80 non-members

Registration Deadline: October 6

Inclines and Overlooks    

Saturday, October 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During the late 1800s, Cincinnati boasted five inclines that carried
people and freight away from the smoke, noise and crowds of the city basin up to fresh air. Visit the sites of the inclined planes, and hilltop resorts built as beer gardens and entertainment venues. Hear the story of Cincinnati’s “seven hills” and the wonders of 19th-century transportation engineering. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $40 members, $45 non-members

Registration Deadline: October 11

Politics and Prayers

Thursday, October 21, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This walking tour visits three of city’s most distinguished houses of worship and Cincinnati City Hall. Tour 1845 Greek Revival St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, once the tallest building in the city. At the Plum Street Temple, view the Byzantine-Moorish Revival architecture seldom seen in the United States. At the Covenant First Presbyterian Church, learn how its influential parishioners had an impact on the Queen City’s history. Explore Cincinnati City Hall, an example of Richardson Romanesque architecture with its interior stained glass windows. Lunch will be at an historic restaurant.

Fee: $35 members, $40 non-members

Registration Deadline: October 14

The High Steel of Union Terminal

Saturday, November 6, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Explore the arched steel structure of the city’s most recognized landmarks. After an audiovisual
presentation on its construction, climb to the High Steel trusses supporting one of the largest half-dome rotundas in the world. Tour lasts about 2 hours, ascends 300 steps and has ladders in dimly lit areas. No cameras or personal carried items are permitted on this tour. No photos are permitted. Sturdy shoes required. No open toed shoes permitted. Must be at least 12 years of age; under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Not handicapped accessible.

Fee: $20 members, $25 non-members

Registration Deadline: November 1

Preserving Family Treasures–Three Dimensional Objects

Saturday, November 13, 9 a.m. to noon

Learn the “do’s and don’ts” of proper care and preservation of your historical treasures with David Conzett, Museum Center curator of history objects. This presentation takes place at the Geier Center, Museum Center’s repository of all things Cincinnati. The curator will give advice on handling, cleaning and storing textiles, furniture, glassware and
metals. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $30 members, $35 non-members

Registration Deadline: November 8