This iconic station is a great place to house a museum. They have 4 plus it's also still a train station. The children's museum is mostly hands on activities, interactive and fun. There are dinosaur exhibits, animal information, space exploration exhibits. The holocaust museum is separate and worth the trip alone. Don't forget to look up to see the architecture. read more

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal - Chili Cheese Fries - aka Cincinnati Poutine - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Wow! What a cool space! I love the art deco style, so walking into this incredible museum complex just gave me an almost overwhelming sense of joy. It was so beautifully built and so meticulously cared for and restored. I love that they carried the deco details throughout the entire space, including the restaurant areas. When you enter, there is a large ticketing area. They can help you with access to the main museums and for tickets to the movie theater. The staff is extremely helpful in guiding you to the right person and the individuals behind the counter are very helpful as well. I was using a reciprocal membership and once they verified Pittsburgh was far enough away (it very much is as Cincinnati is almost five hours from Pittsburgh) it was easy for them to issue us the tickets. We came specifically for the Auschwitz exhibit which was located on a lower floor. Signage was clear and there were ample staff to help guide to the appropriate location. In addition to the four museums covered by the one museum fee, this building also houses a gift shop, cafe area and the Holocaust Center (whose entrance is at the back of the space and a different ticketing system). There is a LARGE parking area in the front of the complex. It is an uncovered surface lot and on a busy day could be quite a walk to the entrance. You can, however, pull up right in front if someone from your party needs to be dropped off. I really enjoyed my time here, and will definitely be back to spend additional time in the various museums (as we were rushed because we spent so much time in the Auschwitz exhibit). If you are in the Cincinnati area, definitely make sure you visit. read more

I came here for the Aushwitz exhibit - which I felt was overpriced for what was displayed - it was an audio and reading geared exhibit whereas I was hoping for more artifacts to see. The museum as a hole is very well maintained and clean. The prices are a tad expensive however compared to other museums I have been to in touristy cities. The childrens museum is the star of the show - it is so interactive and if I had kiddos I would take them here often for a day of play - even as an adult passing by I wanted to jump in the ball pit I saw. read more

Took my nephew here at it was a BLAST. They had a mini rela life play of kroger shopping, cooking, ice cream truck, dentist play .....all kinds of imaginative children play! On top of the other historical and science exhibit. Another spot we enjoyed was the tv/media of history section where u can play pretend as a news anchor and play photo op. read more

See all

We have been to the Cincinnati Museum and the Omnimax theater many times over the years, but this is the first time we visited the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. We went to see the "Not Long Ago. Not Far Away." exhibit that was in town for a couple more weeks. I was very impressed with the experience from start to finish. Check in was a breeze. They handed out listening devices, explained how to use them, and gave a few suggestions on how to not just stay in a cluster of people. The Auschwitz exhibit was very moving and all the people going through it were quiet and respectful throughout. read more

See all

Great museum, very very well rounded natural/science history portion. just a little expensive entry. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

Ok... if you don't come to the Cincinnati Historical museum, or the Natural History Museum, or the Children's museum, you're a fool. I strongly suggest you to take the Rotunda tour. It's free and they walk you thru areas not open to the public . Mary spent over an hour pointing out stuff we missed or overlooked. To the folks that wanted to tear this place down.... That was an idiotic thing to do. The crown jewel of the Queen City! Do the tour! read more

See all

Came for the model train displays at Christmas. Being a train geek I was in my glory. The museum features a year-round model train display modeled after Cincinnati in the 1950s. But at Christmas there is an entirely separate area with more displays. All well done and worth seeing. Admission is for the entire museum which is devoted to the history of Cincinnati. There are IMAX movies and special events that can be purchased as well. I was not aware that basic adult admission would be $24.50. Sorry but that is steep especially when there are 4 adults and only one is really into the trains. Add $6 for parking as well. The geek in me loved this but my wallet not so much. read more

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal - 1960 Cincinnati model - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

This is a really awesome museum. You can absolutely spend at least half a day exploring it. There is a transportation, science and a kids area. I would have to say the caverns were my favorite part I wouldn't suggest it if you have an issue with tight spaces or a little on the wider side I'm average size and it was a little tough for me to get through but didn't keep me from doing it twice. read more

See all

We visited to see the Auchewitz exhibit this weekend. It has been 20 years since we last visited the museum. The exhibit was very well thought out and put together. We were so happy we had an opportunity to see it. Museum center was clean and ample parking. Friendly staff. We even had Graeters ice cream while we were there. I would highly recommend this museum. read more

Powerful exhibit of Auschwitz's. Scary but very interesting to learn the history and see the artifacts in person. Man inhumanity to man is so amazing to see just how far a 'civilized' society can be pushed by ideology. We must never forget the horror of these events read more

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal - Inside the rotunda - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

We live the Cincinnati museum center!!! The after hours events are our favorite with great themes , fabulous music, lots of activities to keep people happy and busy. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

Not only was the terminal beautiful and bustling during the holiday break, we opted for the Auschwitz exhibit that definitely took two hours. Plan ahead for the time, but it was well worth the time and price. It's a very sobering but educational experience, and certainly worth going to before April if you're interested in history and learning more. Overall, the Museum Center has so much to offer, oh, and it's an Amtrak station too! The architecture and preservation of the history of the terminal is also something to walk around and enjoy while you're there. read more

See all

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. read more

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! read more

See all

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. read more

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! read more

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal - Barbie exhibit! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

Dinner and a Movie! Amazing experience. Beverages and snacks while you mingle! Then a cooking demonstration (small groups of 8) with some light engagement /prep. Followed by dinner (3 courses) served in the Rotunda! Topped off with watching "Hubble" in the theater! Delicious food, wonderful hosts/chefs and a great movie all in a fantastic location. Kudos to all for a wonderful experience! read more

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. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

You could spend multiple days here and still not have seen everything! There is so much and the kids area can't be beat. The membership is sooooo worth it if you have kids (includes free parking!). They have a cafe and IMAX movie theater too on top of everything else. Don't skip the ice age cave! Great museum housed in an incredible piece of history building. read more

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. read more

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. But also impressed at the integrity, painstaking detail, and dramatic (though painful) presentation they put together. read more

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. read more

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. read more

See all

Cool history of Cincinnati. The building is amazing and cool for photos with its art deco facade (Superman's Hall of Justice). We also wound up going through the national history museum and it kept the interest of my 20 something sons all afternoon on a rainy Saturday. read more

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. read more

See all

parking was ridiculous, didn't even get to use the tickets we pre purchased. Save your hard earned money from this rip off

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. read more

See all

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 read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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. read more

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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. read more

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

See all

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! read more

See all