Cincinnati: Markets, Museums and History

Cincinnati can be explored through a wide range of themes: food and market life, the history of a house, several museums, and exhibits on the history of freedom. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cincinnati, these highlights can help you organize your interests for your stay. The following places offer specific starting points for a visit and differ considerably in the stories and themes they bring to the forefront.

Market and Food in Over-the-Rhine

Findlay Market is the oldest continuously operated public market in Ohio and a Cincinnati institution. It is located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Its focus is on fresh agricultural produce, as well as locally sourced, artisanal, and specialty foods.

If you’d also like to get to know Cincinnati through its food, the market offers a distinct focus alongside the historic sites and museums. Its offerings combine fresh produce with locally sourced and artisanal foods. This makes Findlay Market a specific destination for travelers who want to add a culinary touch to their stay alongside history and exhibits.

Taft’s Birthplace and Its History

The William Howard Taft National Historic Site includes a two-story Greek Revival-style house. William Howard Taft was born and grew up there. A visit illustrates the surroundings that shaped his character and philosophy. The focus is therefore not only on the house’s architecture, but also on the biographical context of the site.

Tours of the Taft house are offered on every day the park is open; availability may vary on weekends. If you’re planning to take a tour during your visit, check the current tour schedule beforehand. This site offers a different way to explore history than exhibits covering a longer period or a broader topic.

Museums and Visit Planning

Admission to the Cincinnati Museum Center includes the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, and The Children's Museum. The Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; holiday schedules may vary. If your visit falls on a holiday, check the schedule in advance.

The Children's Museum has eight educational, themed play areas, including areas for preschoolers and younger children. These play areas are a distinct feature of the Center’s museum offerings. With one admission, you can visit several institutions with different themes, including history, nature and science, and the Children's Museum play areas.

Cincinnati-Metro bus route 49 connects downtown with the Cincinnati Museum Center, with a stop near the Museum Center entrance. Route details may change. So check the current route if you’re planning to use this connection for your trip.

The History of Freedom from the Underground Railroad to the Present

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati tells stories of freedom heroes from the time of the Underground Railroad to the present through permanent and changing exhibits. This time span sets it apart from the William Howard Taft National Historic Site: there, a specific house and Taft’s early surroundings shape the visit, while the Freedom Center brings together stories of freedom across a long period of history.

These different perspectives can help you choose what to focus on during your visit. Findlay Market represents food and market life, the Taft site a biographical place, and the Freedom Center exhibits on the history of freedom. The Cincinnati Museum Center adds three institutions included with museum admission and the play areas of The Children's Museum. This lets you shape your stay in Cincinnati around the topics that interest you most.

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