Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Cincinnati Union Terminal

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

1. Cincinnati Union Terminal Marker

Inscription. The Cincinnati Union Terminal opened in March 1933 and integrated rail travel in the city, which previously operated from five separate passenger terminals. Built when rail travel was already in decline, Union Terminal stopped operating as a passenger railroad station in 1972. Only during WWII was the terminal used to capacity with as many as 34,000 people travelling through the building daily in 1944. As part of preservation efforts, 14 mosaics depicting Cincinnati industry of the 1930s by Winold Reiss were saved from the concourse and moved to the Greater Cincinnati Airport. The restored Union Terminal became a Museum Center in November 1990 with the opening of the renovated Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and new Cincinnati History Museum. Cincinnati Union Terminal has been described as one of the most outstanding examples of Art Deco train stations in the nation and was listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Erected 2002 by Cincinnati Museum Center and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 26-31.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Arts, Letters, Music • Railroads & Streetcars

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

• War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks, the National Historic Landmarks, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1933.

Location. 39° 6.566′ N, 84° 32.215′ W. Marker is in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton County. Marker is at the former departing (southern) public transportation portal of Cincinnati Union Terminal, now the Cincinnati Museum Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. From the Farewell Address of George Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Home Field of First Pro Baseball Team (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John James Audubon in Cincinnati (about 400 feet away); Site of Home Plate Crosley Field (approx. half a mile away); Crosley Field (approx. half a mile away); Camp Joy (approx. 0.6 miles away); Laurel-Lincoln World War II Memorial

Cincinnati Union Terminal and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

2. Cincinnati Union Terminal and Marker

(approx. 0.6 miles away); The Gamble House (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cincinnati.

Additional commentary.
1. National Register of Historic Places:
Cincinnati Union Terminal *** (added 1972 - - #72001018)
1301 Western Ave. , Cincinnati
♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: Fellheimer & Wagner
♦ Architectural Style: Art Deco
♦ Area of Significance: Art, Architecture, Transportation
♦ Period of Significance: 1925-1949
♦ Owner: Private
♦ Historic Function: Transportation
♦ Historic Sub-function: Rail-Related
♦ Current Function: Transportation
♦ Current Sub-function: Rail-Related

— Submitted May 24, 2011.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

3. Cincinnati Union Terminal Marker

At former departing public transportation portal for trollies, taxi cabs, and busses.

Cincinnati Union Terminal image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

4. Cincinnati Union Terminal

Cincinnati Union Terminal and water fountains image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 16, 2011

5. Cincinnati Union Terminal and water fountains

National Register of Historic Places: Cincinnati Union Terminal *** (added 1972 - - #72001018)

Ohio Historic Civil Engineering Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

6. Ohio Historic Civil Engineering Marker

Ohio Council, American Society of Civil Engineer, 1989. Inside terminal entrance.

The Illumination of the Facade of Union Terminal Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

7. The Illumination of the Facade of Union Terminal Marker

Inside terminal entrance.

William L. Mallory, Sr. Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

8. William L. Mallory, Sr. Marker

Born just blocks from here in Cincinnati's West End, William L. Mallory, Sr., served the people of Ohio for 28 years in the Ohio House of Representatives where his colleagues elected him the first African American Majority Leader.

Mr. Mallory worked tirelessly to save Union Terminal and to transform it into Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990. He has remained an enthusiastic advocate and good friend ever since.

This plaque dedicated on August 30, 2007

Marker is inside terminal entrance.

Cincinnati Union Terminal Architect Block image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

9. Cincinnati Union Terminal Architect Block

On entrance facade of terminal.

Cincinnati Union Terminal Information Booth image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

10. Cincinnati Union Terminal Information Booth

Cincinnati Union Terminal "To Trains" Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

11. Cincinnati Union Terminal "To Trains" Sign

Cincinnati Union Terminal Officers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

12. Cincinnati Union Terminal Officers

Cincinnati Union Terminal Ticket Window image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

13. Cincinnati Union Terminal Ticket Window

Cincinnati Union Terminal Time Capsule Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

14. Cincinnati Union Terminal Time Capsule Marker

On entry facade, near "cornerstone."

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

15. Cincinnati Union Terminal Time Capsule Marker

On wall inside terminal entrance.

Cincinnati Union Terminal Concourse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

16. Cincinnati Union Terminal Concourse

View from Cincinnati Union Terminal Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

17. View from Cincinnati Union Terminal Entrance

Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

18. Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

19. Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

20. Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

21. Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

22. Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

23. Cincinnati Union Terminal Mural

Cincinnati Union Terminal Upstairs Tower A ,Routing Board image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 16, 2011

24. Cincinnati Union Terminal Upstairs Tower A ,Routing Board

Cincinnati Union Terminal , Tower A view of an north bound freight into Depot Yards image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 16, 2011

25. Cincinnati Union Terminal , Tower A view of an north bound freight into Depot Yards

Cincinnati Union Terminal Tower A view of the Locomotives in the Yards image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 16, 2011

26. Cincinnati Union Terminal Tower A view of the Locomotives in the Yards

circa 1935

27. Cincinnati Union Terminal

Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,325 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on May 20, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. submitted on October 31, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 24, 25, 26. submitted on May 20, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 27. submitted on November 8, 2014.