Cincinnati Museum Center

Having our wedding reception at The Cincinnati Museum Center was the most magical decision we made. The venue is beyond stunning — dinner and dancing beneath the iconic rotunda mural is surreal, and guests absolutely loved wandering the museum exhibits during cocktail hour. People were thrilled exploring with drinks and hors d’oeuvres in hand, and the Graeter’s ice cream shop inside was a HUGE hit. But even more amazing were the people: ✨ Jenna, our event coordinator — patient, supportive, responsive, and so positive through every question, change, and walkthrough ✨ Alayna (Catering) and the Head Chef — who customized food across per theme, built a serpent-shaped head table, and turned every idea into reality We had so many moving parts — multiple themes, multiple bars, décor vendors, and guest logistics — and CMC helped execute flawlessly. We are forever fans, and we LOVE our free one-year membership. Best venue, best team, best experience. THANK YOU, CMC!!!

Meanwhile... At The Hall of Justice... Have been here many times before. Great exhibits and Children's museum. Yesterday we saw the Omnimax show Ohio Wild at Heart. Very informative about Ohio's state parks. Great movie!

We spent 5 hours there enjoying all the basic exhibits. It is very well done. Handicapped accessible. Pleanty of things to do and see. Train Junction and Legos was wonderful. We even saw Santa.

We are so, so lucky to have the Cincinnati Museum Center as a staple of our community. I have been coming here since I was a child — genuinely, for as long as I can remember, I have been learning and growing as a young woman here. The Children’s Museum is amazing for kids, with activities, games, and interactive exhibits. The Natural History and Cincinnati History areas are full of unique topics, local history, interesting exhibits, and more. I LOVE it there. I could spend hours upon hours taking my time to read, understand, and think about everything. There is also an IMAX theater here, as well as rotating exhibits that travel throughout the country. The most recent exhibit I visited was the Pompeii exhibit, and it was wonderfully done. There were historical objects on display to convey the art and culture of the era, as well as pertaining to the disaster specifically. I am so thankful for the Cincinnati Museum Center. I always have loved it there, and cannot wait to continue to see what its future holds.

The museum was stunning. A majority of the exhibits are interactive to some degree which makes it even cooler for adults. The childrens museum is WICKED cool complete with a town; supermarket, house, post office, dump, dentist office ect 🥰🥹 took our 18m.o. our 4y.o. and nana and everyone had a fantastic time. 4 hours very well spent and we probably missed a couple spots. We will definitely be back!

One of the "must visit" attractions if you are new to the Cincinnati area or if you are just visiting from out of town. A spot where I believe there is something that appeals to all ages. For locals, it seems like there is something new to do/view throughout the year. History, science, playtime, and many other things to explore. The base admission price gets you into most of the activities/museum areas. Special attractions do require an additional fee. For many it is easy to not recognize the importance of Cincinnati's Union Terminal on the local history. Once inside though, you'll understand this location's contribution to Cincinnati, as well as many other Cincinnati history icons. With children, 3 hours is probably a good amount of time to plan for spending on site. An annual pass certainly allows you to come and go without feeling the obligation to see everything in one day. It is very easy to spend 3 or more hours here wandering the exhibits and taking in all of the detail (trains, Cincinnati replica, etc.) Really just so much to choose from, and it's all indoors. Definitely a weather day activity, which can mean it will be busy. Parking on site that will fill up on busy days. Parking is included if you have the annual membership. The annual membership does offer price reductions for the special exhibits.

Family visit from Chicago and Tammy enjoyed this museum. You would not think it was this huge from the outside. If you have little kids they could be in there all day. Interesting for adults must must go see.

The Cincinnati Museum Center is such a cool spot. The Art Deco building alone is worth the visit; seriously gorgeous and full of vintage charm. We grabbed tickets on Groupon which made it super easy (saved a few dollars), and the exhibits ended up being way more fun and interactive than I expected (even just for two adults). We skipped the kids’ museum this time, but the other areas had so many hands-on things that I’m sure the children’s section is awesome too. We spent about 3–4 hours wandering around and never felt too crowded, even on a Sunday morning. Parking was a easy. Overall, just a really fun, easy, and memorable way to spend half a day.

This is a must see for anyone visiting Cincinnati and locals alike. First, there are four museums that are here year-round. The Cincinnati history Museum, the children's museum, the museum of natural history and science, and the holocaust and humanity center. Additionally, there is a working train station servicing Amtrak, as well as an Omnimax theater. There is usually at least one temporary exhibit as well. There is so much to see and experience here. If you have little ones, you can easily spend an entire day at the children's museum and you'll have just as much fun as they do. For slightly older kids and adults the other permanent offerings are excellent. I highly encourage everyone to visit the Holocaust and humanities center. Don't miss out on this Cincinnati gem!

A great place to visit to learn new things and to just be a big kid. Lots of hands on activities that would keep your interest as an adult. They also have a kids part for the younger children to keep them entertained as well. I had a great time here.

My rating is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. This place is beautiful and historic. My grandparents came through this terminal on their honeymoon in the early 50's from Indy to Cincy so I was excited to walk in their footsteps, kinda. My biggest complaint is that it's not as accessible as it seems to be. They have signs posted that say while the floor is uneven in certain areas, it's still accessible by wheelchairs and strollers. The people pushing strollers around seemed to be doing ok but we were pushing my mom in a wheelchair and struggled in the Public Landing area and didn't even attempt the Ice Age gallery or The Cave. I just ended up running ahead to see where it came out and then texted the rest of my family directions for how to get around it. I also was just a little bit confused everywhere we went. It seemed like we were walking uphill the whole time, but people were going in both directions and I didn't see any directional signage for the correct path to follow. It probably would've been fine if I was on my own, but I did check in advance to see if accessibility would be an option. I guess technically yes, but you will struggle in some areas. They do have electric scooters for rent and you may fare better with those than a manual wheelchair. I did love the variety of exhibits. The diorama of Cincinnati was one of my favorite parts. I also enjoyed learning about all the things invented in Cincinnati. I lived here for a few years as a kid and I never knew. I also liked the multi-sensory touches like scents in certain areas (ivory soap, bbq spices, etc). And just the Metropolis-vibe of it all. I just watched the Superman movie and it just fits. I would probably return on my own, but it was too stressful of an experience trying to navigate with a wheelchair. The mezzanine cafe and the ice cream parlor were just ok but very beautifully preserved and I enjoyed dining in them.

Are you coming into Cincinnati for a visit or maybe you already live here? If you haven't been to this place, you really are missing out on a true gem. They have train displays, a water table area, a tree house with tunnels, a cave, an ice field, dinosaurs..... Omnimax theather shows .... I can't list all the stuff to see and do.... My fingers are cramping up....come in and spend a couple of hours..... for kids of any age. All housed in the beautiful Cincinnati Train terminal...... otherwise known as the Hall of Justice .

I went to see the Auschwitz exhibit, and was dumbstruck at how thorough, powerful, historically rigorous, and epic it was -- an exhibit on a scale as dynamic as the topic itself. The exhibit consists of placards, artifacts, wall-to-wall photographs and videos. You're given a set of recordings on a lanyard and at specific points you hold it to your ear, key in the number of the video and listen to an explanation of the display. There was plenty of signage to find your way -- everything was organized to tell a story from beginning to end, and there were even time markers along the way, i.e. "you are now 40% through the exhibit." There was ample room, plenty of benches, and Kleenex at each bench -- and you'll need them. I respect that it gave a historical context, lots of information I didn't know about Auschwitz, stories the lesser-known heroes in the midst of such horror, and ended with the liberation of the camp and statements from the survivors. This isn't really an exhibit you enjoy -- it's more accurate to say that I was changed and inspired by it.

This place is so amazing--3 museums in 1! The depot building is beautiful and worth seeing itself. We couldn't get enough of the children's museum and the museum of natural history. There are a few places inside the building to grab a snack or lunch. There's also plenty of parking available. Plan several hours for your visit. This is a must see place in Cincinnati!

I would like to update my review. The last time I came here was 10 years ago. I remember going to the Omnimax. Since then, they've added more exhibits and expanded the building. Recently my friend took me to the Barbie Exhibit. I was like a kid in a candy store. I got the tickets discounted through an email, so it was reasonable in pricing. The children's museum is still there. They added a cafe if you get hungry and more stores. My favorite is the inside when you walk in. Ceilings and walls have many details. Love this place!

Loved our visit as a whole, despite some unpleasantry at the Children's Museum. Pretty busy shortly after opening on a Monday (over the holidays.) A fair sized line inside; there are self-serve stations but I wanted to see if any of my other memberships got me a discount. And they did! I'm not sure if it was another science museum or the Ohio Historical Society one (and we had AAA, AARP, etc.,) but the clerk looked up all of them and we ended up essentially just paying for parking ($6 instead of $46, for an adult and child.) Wow. The station is beautiful, of course. There are a couple of little cafes up there, locker rooms, restrooms, benches, the gift shop, etc. An amazing building, and fairly easy to get around. The museums are off to the sides and downstairs. Definitely would come back.

Came here with friends for the Barbie exposition. I bought the ticket online, as well as the parking. There was. 5K that morning, but we had no problem parking. I noticed walking to the entrance that there are 15 min. parking spots close by to drop off those who have limited mobility, or maybe you need to drop off your SO with kiddos and stroller! I'd been to the CMC before but never for a special exhibit. It was SO fun!! The number of Barbie dolls from collections and Mattel archives was amazing!! It brought back many memories, and we all learned some new things about Barbie's history. We had fun taking pics in the life-size Barbie convertible, and there was museum personnel to answer any/all Barbie questions! It was also nice and cool inside, a nice escape from the sweltering heat and humidity we've been having!

Love bringing my kids to the children's museum and they also have a lot of cool rotating exhibits. I recently saw Barbie & Julia Child and really enjoyed both but learned a lot at the Julia Child exhibit. The food you can purchase is decent as well. Pnina's is a fun experience and I also recommend the Holocaust Center on the lower level!

Omg, we came after Newport Aquarium and didn't expect too much. Parking was $6 and found out our ASTC reciprocal membership got us free admission which would have been over $50. We only did the children museum on lower level with our little ones. Otherwise we would have visited the rest of the other museums. The entire museum is inside the train station which is similar how Kansas City uses its union station for science museum. The children's museum is massive and my son loved the energy room along with the water table. There is even a tree house is back where you can run around front tree to tree too.

This is a beautiful, educational, and immersive museum complex in a historic train terminal. Our family visited on a weekday and spent approximately three hours. We spent the majority of our time in the children museum and there were a few exhibits that we particularly enjoyed: the Kroger grocery store, dental clinic, house with foam bricks and posts, and arts and crafts section. 1) The Kroger grocery store had shelves of groceries such as cereal, granola bars, and pasta in addition to a bakery, cold and frozen food section, produce section, and shelves of cleaning supplies. Our young girls had a fun time shopping and ringing up items. 2) The dental clinic had a large set of teeth that is perfect for Instagrammable pictures and a seat for young children to pretend to be dentist and examine patient's teeth. 3) The house is a wooden frame with plenty of blue building foam bricks, gears, plugs, square and rectangular blocks, and posts. 4) The arts and crafts section did not have a program during our visit but there were some mini stations set up. Our girls used the chalk board and drew pictures. Outside of the children museum, we also explored other parts such as Cincinnati history, Neil Armstrong exhibit, and dinosaur exhibit. There were a lot of neat and informational bits and truly something for everyone.

What can I add that folks haven't already written about? Not much really, so I'll make it short and sweet: The building and the grounds are phenomenal. I am sure it would be even better once the fountain is on. Also you can get a great veiw of the city from here. The entry hall is stunning. Look up and around and let that sink in. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable (well 99%... there always has to be that one) You can spend the entire day here, the selection of museums in here is wonderful. Visit one or more. I love that you have all these options in the same place. No traipsing around town from museum to museum. This place is extremely busy. I cam during the week, thinking it would be quiet, but ran into bus loads of students. Weekends of course are crowded with families. It's also a bit pricey I must say. However I visited the Pompeii exhibit and it was so well done, I didn't mind the price.

If you ask me to put on my principled-analyst-of-local-land-use-and-finance-policies hat, I'm genuinely not sure how I'd feel about this enterprise and the various rounds of public and private funding it took to build, renovate, and maintain it. But this is such a beautiful and interesting space that I don't think about that too hard. It's got a very nice children's museum with plenty of ways for your children to romp out their energy during a wintertime visit to Ohio, nice other museums, and a gorgeous historical space -- the kind of space you would never build today on purpose for this kind of use. So purely as a user of the space, I'm delighted that it was reclaimed this way, even if the technology, economics and geography of rail travel have robbed the space of its original purpose. It makes me smile. And hey, I'm not a Cincinnati taxpayer.

This is a beautiful museum complex located in the 1930s train terminal (still used in a much smaller way by Amtrak). It is well worth a visit, even just to visit the grounds and the public areas. They just don't make buildings like that anymore. And the fountain was beautiful! We went with the kids and my sister. I have a membership to MOSI in Tampa, and CMC is a member of the ASTC, so my husband and I and the kids were able to get free admission to the basic museum. We paid for Omnimax tickets (blue whales -- GREAT movie!!) to round out our visit. We were there on 1940 day, which was pretty neat. It did result in a more crowded experience, but honestly, it wasn't too crowded compared to other places we've visited, so we had a very enjoyable day. My kids are a bit too old for the Children's Museum, but they enjoyed the Natural History Museum and the Cincinnati History Museum. We spent 5 hours at CMC (admittedly, part of the time was at the Omnimax, and part was spent eating lunch) and could have spent more time there. My 6 year old enjoyed that there were things she could touch in the museums, and both kids enjoyed that the exhibits were frequently interactive and not condescending to kids. Parking is ample, but there's a walk from the lots to the museum.

We actually bought tickets for the Julia Child exhibit that was very interesting and informative. The admission also included entrance to the Museum of Natural History, The History Museum and the Children's Museum of which we visited the first two. If you enjoy architecture then the art deco Union Station building is a treat. Of course we went on a Friday so there were school field trips(not at Julie Child) that you had to navigate to get past the kids. As a former employee of public school keep that in mind if you prefer a quieter experience. If you parked in the lot remember to take your ticket inside with you and use the machine to pay before leaving. It was $6 to park.

There's nothing about the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal that is not fantastic. The terminal itself is worth the visit. The outside is gorgeous. Inside, the largest half dome in the western hemisphere, is a sight to behold. If there are two of you, one needs to go to the left, the other to the right... and then whisper into the arch of the dome. Pretty cool, eh? The mosaics are huge and gorgeous. Omnimax is always a great experience. The museums are a joy. For those of us old enough to remember the original Museum of Natural History, walking through the caves will bring back wonderful memories. Special exhibits are always worthwhile. The Cincinnati diorama is huge and striking in its detail. I recommend not only visiting, but becoming a member.

Wow! This is an awesome place to visit in Cincinnati, especially on a cold or rainy day. I visited with my 3 children and we all had a great time not only visiting the multiple museums inside but also enjoying the beauty of the art deco building. The great part about visiting the museum center is you can buy tickets for just one museum or all of them. So you can spend a couple hours or all day depending on the experience you want. On our trip we visited the history museum, children's museum, and natural history and science museum. They have several locations to eat on the lower and upper levels. The building is also well laid out with lots of maps and signs to point you in the right direction. They also have special exhibits on display like the Lego alphabet. Parking is $6 and right in front of the building.

Had a wonderful time! So many things to see,the omnimax film was so cool. Very excited to head back and visit the holocaust exhibition. Tickets were easy to access on line and can also purchase at the museum . I would buy my omnimax ticket ahead of time as they sell out and there a limited number of showings Plenty of food options while you're there, lastly one of my favorite piece's of the museum was the ability to watch the staff working on the fossils.

Amazing gem of a place in downtown Cincy. We came to visit the children's museum but soon realized that our ticket gained admission to so much more. Children's museum is vast and a great place for kids to have fun. They have people who tell stories and teach so if you have a kid that absorbs stories and words, they'll be fascinated. A large water exhibit/table is also in the children's museum. They have smocks but just bring your kid an extra shirt to change out. There is a little play place with slide for kiddos under 4 and then other exhibits such as a Kroger grocery store (with working scanner!) and diner to cook. A vet office for aspiring animal doctors and even a digging site with an excavator! So much more but we have to come back to experience because our son didn't get to everything. Beyond the children's museum your ticket allows you to visit the museum of natural history and science as well as the history of transportation. A very nice journey through the history of Cincinnati in the latter wing of the museum. Every place is handicap accessible and stroller friendly and plenty of railings for the incline portions. There are both snack options and full meal options on site. Parking is $6 and unavoidable unless you are a member or want to hike up the road from the neighborhood below.

I came here today for the first time in years, and the place is still as fun as ever. Going through the cave and the ice age sections was super fun with kids. But the star of the show was the forest, which is basically a themed, elaborate play structure. If we lived in Cinci, we would definitely get a membership. Fortunately, we came with friends who are members, allowing us to get discounted admission. Without it, would be a bit pricey. In my mind, that's the only real drawback.

Such a fun museum with kind staff and housed in a stunning building! There are also tours of the building offered regularly.

We love the CMC! Always a great time with the kids! Also if you have WIC you get a discount making the museum only $3.00 per person! It is called museum for all. Such a great program! I also appreciate the very clean and updated nursing room. It made it so easy to nurse my baby.

This was a fun day trip and the Cincinnati Museum Admission includes Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, and The Children's Museum. Parking was very easy and there was plenty of spaces in the long parking lots. It was a bit of hike to the main entrance but you can always drop someone off by the doors if needed. We did a ticket package since it was such a good deal rather than individual items. The package we purchased included the Museum All Day pass and an Omani-Max showing of Ancient Caves. The total for all museums and the show was $20.50 each. Also, lockers are available and do recommend them for your personal stuff so you are not carrying around a bunch of stuff. We put our jacking in there and it was only $1.00. Took me a minute to figure out how to work them but I don't think most people would have found it as challenging as I did. Was definitely a good choice. It really was such a fun visit. We did the, Museum of Natural History, the OmniMax Show, and spent hours exploring and taking it all in. Make sure to check out the Cincinnati in Motion model train & city exhibit ,as well as the Public Landing exhibit. The inner kid in me LOVED the public landing exhibit with the cobblestone streets,the river boat and town exhibit with all the period shops. We even did an overpriced Lunch at the Nourish 513 at the Museum Center. We paid for lunch there and some extras during the visit since we were from out of town. For us it was part of the experience and that $7.59 very small Mac & Cheese + a diet code (between $12 - $13.00 total) made it so worth it with all the walking and exploring. Gave us a break to recharge. For anyone on a budget you could go for just the museums and bring in food and snacks (double check the policies as you can bring it in, but not in the museum areas). This was such a wonderful addition to this Cincinnati Trip! I had always wanted to check it out and so glad we did. Would absolutely return for another trip. Have fun and remember to wear comfortable shoes!

This place has something for everyone--literally every age group can find enjoyment in this museum. It is worth every bit of the price especially if you have a kid. I would recommend starting very early because the whole day can go by before you check every bit of it out. Pay the extra to see something in the Dome theater especially if it is space related. Parking is very convenient and it's always great to pause and gaze at the old train station before ascending the fountain stairs.

Brought back all the memories learning how our favorite childhood movies were made at the science behind Pixar exhibit this weekend! It was so fascinating to see all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes The Pixar exhibit runs until April 24th, 2022! Be sure to check out the other exhibits as well - Natural history, the history of Cincinnati (with amazing train models!) and the Ancient Caves Omnimax feature. The history of Cincinnati exhibit was created so thoughtfully, sending you straight back to what our city looked like in the 1940s and how transportation has evolved over time. The Omnimax show, ancient Caves was really well made. Narrated by Bryan Cranston and showcased some very rare footage from cave divers gathering stalagmite specimens for research. If you're really claustrophobic just a heads up they show the divers crawling in and out of small spaces and in 300+ ft. Deep water ! The lower level also has a small food court that has kid friendly themed items for little ones to enjoy in between exhibits and play time.

We always have a great time at the CMC ... but our last visit was definitely the most memorable! The Museum Center recently expanded its Friday night hours - so folks who can't make it in during normal business hours could still check out the Science Behind Pixar exhibit. We were so grateful to have this opportunity ... since the exhibit is leaving in late April and we didn't know when else we would get to explore it. Reserving tickets was incredibly easy ... I paid for them online, and just reserved a later time slot. The Pixar tickets were about $20 a person ... a little pricey, but since that's the only exhibit we were visiting that night, we didn't mind. The one thing that's always a little weird to me is the $6 parking charge they just add on to the tickets. I don't mind paying for parking ... and $6 is certainly reasonable - but no one actually checks those parking passes. What if I took the bus to the museum? Would I still get charged for parking? The exhibit was surprisingly busy for an after-hours visit ... but still wayyy less packed than it would have been on a Saturday or Sunday. There was a good mix of adults and families in attendance that night ... and I feel like there was something for everyone to enjoy in the Pixar exhibit. I know this is a traveling display, but it was extremely well done. It honestly felt like we were in Disneyland during parts of it. The interactive elements were also fun for all ages ... some were definitely a little simple for kiddos, but there were several that my fiancé and I enjoyed playing around with as well. The Science Behind Pixar was honestly more of an experience than an exhibit ... and I hope the rest of the CMC's plans for 2022 live up to this one! I'm also a huge fan of the expanded hours on Friday's ... and would love to see an "Adults Only" night on their calendars.

Love the local history. It's great that his place is multi-use and user friendly! Being an active train station and 3 museums makes being a member worth it!

We were at the museum center for an exhibit and decided to stay for a tour of the terminal. Don was very knowledgeable and we were able to hear the history of the building and gain access to areas off limits to the public. The tour was about 1 hour and did I mention it was free. Great ending to an already interesting day.

Date of visit Dec 30, 2023. We were looking for a quick place to drop into before our plane left back home to Georgia later that night. The Cincinnati Museum has plenty of parking, but you will need to pay for parking. For my wife and I, the basic package and parking we paid $51. There is really great information about the city of Cincinnati and all the innovations, meat packing history, machinery inventions etc. The steamboat area was a neat touch inside. One of the museum exhibits was the: Girlhood, It's Complicated. I do wish in this exhibit had much more information on the pioneering women who had major impacts, and how they aided women's rights and treatment. It was a fairly large exhibit area. But I felt it was superficial in many areas. The true depth of suppression, rights, fairness, and respect women have endured through history was barely touched in this exhibit. It seemed to mainly focus on cosmetics, changes in decade style clothing (quite a bit of the exhibit). I guess if your aim was to focus on the many small things women deal with daily, you hit it out of the park. But for the much deeper things which have a major impact, you added about 20% of substance. Another exhibit was the space/moon landing. It had a very meager physical display of space program memorabilia or artifacts. It did have a movie on in the center you could sit and watch that was likely about 8-10 minutes or so. The exhibit below average compared to almost all others related to the same subject I've been to. We skipped the dinosaur, fossil science area since we had visited another similar place earlier in the week nearby. It is a very spacious place and should be considering they converted it from the cities major train terminal into a museum. Two adults, if it was about $35-$40 for the museum and parking it would be worth it. But overall, I didn't really find what they were offering to warrant the higher value. Considering you would also need to pay per person an additional $10 for the Holiday Junction area, then another $9.50 for Omnimax, then $7.50 for the holocaust area if bought separate. Their military discount is almost a slap in the face to those who have served. $1 (3.90% off) off museum admission. No discount on the additional museum features. Please for the sake of the sacrifices our highly underpaid military members endure, either raise it to at least 10%-20% or get rid of the joke of a discount you are offering... Apparently making it to age 60 in life is worth a 21.6% senior discount. Had I known the military discount was almost offensive, I would have taken my 3rd generation military service money elsewhere. This is a one and done adventure type experience. I definitely wouldn't revisit it.

The Museum Center always has interesting exhibits, however, the Julia Child exhibit was disappointing. It was a confusing layout, and very hard to follow her life in chronological order. Three of my companions completely missed the little film. I finally gave up trying to make sense of it. Also, there was a back up at the exit, people could not get their receipts scanned.

It is a beautiful building that holds multiple amazing and unique experiences. I could easily spend a week here and not see everything that complex has to offer. I had the amazing opportunity to attend their taste by the bite event, Layers, this year was specifically Layers of Discovery. Not only were we spoiled with creative signature cocktails, the best bites in the city, but it was like a museum admission on steroids. We saw a live bat, dinosaur bones, a space exhibit, and a mini Cinci. We walked through caves, climbed through a net bridge, got temporary tattoos, and learned that the state fossil is a trilobite. My favorite vendor was probably mixicles, which brought two fun cocktails that are enhanced with their innovative and delicious mix cubes. I highly recommend spending a day in this place but if you can, get yourself to the Layers event at the beginning of November

WOW!! It's been a while since I've been to this museum and that word says it best! They've added exhibits (Neil Armstrong in Space and Ice Age and a reimagined 'The Cave'), revamped their children's museum, and the model town/train area is much more elaborate than what I remember! What a jewel of a museum to have in the Queen City! I loved it! And once my daughter is old enough to enjoy the children's museum I'm sure we'll be there quite a bit!

Nice museum, the kids will enjoy it. Affordable. The Omnimax experience was nice. My favorite part is the dinosaur exhibit area. Enjoy

The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal was a must see for my trip. Its one of the most significant Art Deco buildings in America. Designed by the noted architectural firm of Fellheimer and Wagner of New York. Paul Philippe Cret was the lead designer. The murals and ceiling inside and the building is just beautiful. It was raining the day I went and the drive up to the Museum is stunnning. Today it is occupied by a museum, library, theater,and a train station: Amtrak's tri-weekly train ! Parking was $6 dollar and love the different options of buying a pass or just paying for the museum you are able to attend.

I'm a huge museum lover and Cincinnati's Museum Center is always a favorite of mine. The building alone is breathtaking and they have a fantastic rotation of exhibits. I always go to the Holocaust exhibit and recently was able to see the touring Pixar exhibit. I also recommend seeing what show they have playing in their theater because their IMAX is quite impressive. Do note that their theater is very steep so if you are prone to vertigo it may not be the best.

Excellent museum. Good displays and exhibits. Varied enough for everyone- children's museum with rotating displays. Omnimax is worth the trip alone. The film "Serengeti" that's currently playing is gorgeous and so informative. The history and the beautiful of this building is so impressive.

The architecture is SPECTACULAR! It's a great museum for kids - tons of room to run, hands on & interactive. A little light for the adults but fun nonetheless!

What happened here? I used to love visiting the museum growing up in the 90's and 2000's. We went for a visit today and it was a big let down. Many exhibits that used to exist were vacant, with their entrances simply blocked off. The reduction in exhibit area is pretty significant from what it used to be. I am wondering if the museum is struggling financially or something? The cave area and omnimax movie were the highlights, but the overall museum is just a fraction of what it used to be. I was quite shocked. Admission is $17.50, which is pretty cheap considering today's inflation. Unfortunately, the experience is now only worth $17.50. I'm very disappointed by what this once thriving museum has been reduced to.

I was recently at the movie room. I loved the experience but there was one issue that ruined it. This teen couldn't stop pulling his phone out. He was looking at a photo and it was ruining the movie experience. I think that the ushers need to watch for that and then escort the people out or something.

Gorgeous Art Deco former train station! Museums aside, stopping by to see the amazing ceiling and murals, as well as the other Art Deco features, is worth a side trip! This center also holds a natural history museum with a dinosaur hall (many are real dinosaurs, not casts), as well as a regular history museum. The natural history museum also has various rotating exhibits that are small and contained, but very organized and well done. The regular history museum has some really neat exhibits on transportation, as well as an expansive model train exhibition. There is also a children's museum, a theater hall, and more. They have on site laboratories for genetics and restoration of fossils, with large viewing windows. The center is clean, bright, and full of light. The staff members are nice. I paid around 23 dollars for a ticket that allowed me to see the two history museums, and I feel it was worth it. There were a few things closed due to COVID 19, but it didn't take away from the experience. Please support these local museums!

The crown jewel of Cincinnati! If you visit Cincy and miss this you I feel sorry for you. Wow, Wow, Wow! First, the architecture is amazing. You will feel like you have been here before as you approach Union Station...and the fact is, in a way most of us have been here throughout our childhood. The Hall of Justice design was a exact copy of Union Terminal. It is imprinted on my child memory forever, and now I have come home! The rotunda, once inside, I captivating and mesmerizing all at once. Spend some time just sitting here and you will feel the energy. Cincinnati has culminated all of its best here in this complex. Natural history, City history, industrial Revolution history, NASA history, Pixar and Lego History, and so much more... One of the best collection of Dinosaur fossils, that seems to continue to grow with new acquisitions continuing to flow. And the list goes on and on. The educational aspect is hard to miss. Classrooms seem to flow around every corner and if you are lucky, you can watch and hear the children echoing at almost every turn as they explore. I was taken of guard by the variety and sear mass of this wonder! Don't miss it and plan for several to truly enjoy and take your time!

It's for kids! If you see something on the website saying all ages, I'm here saying it's for kids. There's a couple things for adults but it's very little. Just look at the paid exhibits or movies if you're older. Union station is incredible though, worth stopping in regardless but no need to pay admission.

The Museum Admission includes admission to The Children's Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science and Cincinnati History Museum. The cafe and museum were just renovated and bathrooms are family friendly. There is an Omni max and rotating special exhibit. You can spend all day in just the children's portion. It's in the basement with the rotating special exhibit. When we went, it was Pixar themed. The past couple years they've had Egyptian mummies, Titanic, dinosaur fossils, Lego sculptures/art, and Princess Diana's dresses. Miniature replica of Cincinnati circa 1940's. Working train. It is a huge replica. My 5yo daughter loves looking at the little people and animals. The natural history portion was my favorite as a child. That was 25 years ago. They've upgraded it. The exhibit is fully immersive. My daughter LOVED this. She sang Elsa songs in the ice cave and asked to go back twice. There are space, dinosaur and science in motion exhibits also. All worth checking out and all hands on. I am about 45min away and bought a pass so we can come back.

It is a nice museum in the old train station. The building alone is a draw To the left was a small Cincinnati history museum dominated by a model of the city with working railroads (old model railroad guy here), the rest was mostly transportation. To the left is a natural history museum that is fake dinosaur bones and a science center for kids thing-blah. In the basement is a Holocaust Museum. The museum is in stark contrast to the metro Detroit Holocaust which is mostly flat black and properly grim. The only thing from about Cincinnati's museum is the subject matter. Well done, informative but, for me, a little too colorful.

Art Deco heaven! I had some free time Sunday afternoon and wanted to see the Egyptian exhibit. Unfortunately, that was gone but wow, I immediately fell in love with this Museum complex housed in the historic and restored union station here in Cincinnati. I could not get enough of the Art Deco styling. I just wandered around for an hour soaking up the unique styling before I bought a super affordable entrance to both major museums. Hi lites of the museums were dinosaurs, Apollo 11 exhibit, The Cave, the downtown Cincinnati diarama, antique cars and the unique setting. I kept visualizing what a hustle and bustle place it would be when 34,000 people each day would pass through the portals of this magnificent building from train to car to bus. I love that there is past and present everywhere in this building combined with a preservation of what was once a critical part of the transportation system in Cincinnati. Would be awesome if all 7 of the original train depots were still in existence to visit as well. Saturdays are definitely hopping there. People pouring in and out. Kids having fun. Ice cream. Food. Omnimax. Four total museums. Tours of the historic structure and cheap parking make this a super affordable afternoon activity. Good job Cincy brining this amazing beauty to life.

There is a lot of surprising information about Union Station but, for me, the one fact that had me head scratching was this: during the down-and-out times until 1985, this glorious rotunda was used as a Loehmann's department store. I give Cincinnati a lot of credit that it did what it could to keep some semblance of this amazing structure alive during the decades when train stations all over the country were abandoned and left to rot. I think it's impossible to stand in the rotunda and not feel the same optimism and promise as when it opened to the public in 1933. This is a stupendously uplifting public space. Gazing upward is to look at the sun. It glows. People in the mosaic murals on the surrounding walls are in simple but brilliantly-colored clothing. It's only when you bring your head back to eye level are the colors subdued and earth-toned. That carries through to the remaining spaces. (The Rookwood-tiled ice cream parlor is a special delight.) This cathedral of a building is so monumentally the center of attention that even the dinosaur skeletons on display (in a museum housed in a former traffic corridor) can't command attention. I never thought that was possible. Take the free tour. See some of the offices and passageways that sit behind many of the doors that you'll otherwise pass. It adds to the wonder of it all and connects the dots as to how wonderful an experience train travel really was in its heyday. I spent more hours here milling about than I would have expected. This was a singular train station in its design. While you can't catch the 10:55 to Cleveland, there's enough inherent history and separate museum opportunities to make it all a must-see. I did a short part-time stint selling shoes during college. I barely sold anything. However, if this was 1985 and I saw a job opening to sell shoes at a department store in this rotunda, I'd jump at it.

A Cincinnati staple, no single review can do this place justice. If you're a tourist, please put this museum on your itinerary. It is also recommended to do a little research on the building as it's history is rich. We've been members for two years now. The first year, Union Terminal was closed except for the Children's Museum, so we got to watch along as the entire place was renovated. As a member, I felt I've been treated really well in terms of membership. The reciprocal ammentity alone is enough to become a member. You can visit several hundred different museums in America that is also under the reciprocal program for free or at a steep discount. COSI is free!! They send out monthly current events to the members and include discounts for the Omnimax (not a big fan) and special exhibits. I must say, I enjoyed the museum more prior to the renovations but I'm really enjoying the hand we've been dealt in terms of renos. The Children's Museum had a lot of upkeep done and it all looks very safe and fun. My kiddos love it! Perfect spot for a date night or trip with the kids!

This is only about the lack of cash payment opportunities anywhere except entrance to the facility. What a way to cut your profits. By refusing any other form of payments other than a bank account card. I guess the banks are more important than the children. Oh, wait, they accept Ebt and snap benefits at the entrance. But don't plan on eating. Well done folks. I guess I won't be returning to this museum. I wonder how much of our taxes go into this place. I'd hate to be someone who doesn't have a bank account, and bring kids to learn stuff.