The Library has been working throughout the pandemic, making every effort to stay safe and…read moreavailable. I am so very grateful that their Maker Space is back and running. The precautions are very reasonable, it is per appointment only (reservations are made on-line), with reduced time slots. There is a check-in desk where they verify your appointment. The stations are far apart and there is a lot of signage reminding to keep safe distance. Masks are compulsory at all times. The keyboards on shared spaces are covered with cellophane, and the chairs are now new and plastic, no cloth. All stations are sanitized by the Staff after each use. Some chairs were removed to allow for physical distancing. I feel very safe there. The Staff is amazing, always helpful and nice, despite the furloughs they suffered. Their book check outs are also working, the books are in quarantine for 4 days after drop, just to make sure the potentially contaminated paper is free if virus. They do an amazing job, serving us all with the highest safety standards. Thank you!

I love the library! Especially the main branch. My branch is the Clifton one, but that's for…read moreanother review. The main library downtown is more than a library. It's an event venue, it's a maker's space, it's a community resource, and it's central to Cincinnati's history. My personal favorite thing is that the Main library is starting to host after hours event. There was a Booked for the Night event where we got to do behind-the-scenes tours, snack at numerous food stations, and our ticket even included drinks. I hope they continue to have more evening events. It's the biggest library in the system, of course, so it's one of the best places to wander around and find a book that you never would have known otherwise. The maker space is next level. I always love a drive-thru for when I don't feel like getting out of my car. There is always something for everyone at the library, but especially at this branch. Check it out! (Get it??)

Heritage Programs is an invaluable gem to our Queen City!…read more An outreach association of the Cincinnati History Museum, the organization strives to inspire people to learn and appreciate the region's history. Each month, Heritage Programs offers scheduled tours of unique sites of local or regional interest. Heritage Programs is comprised entirely of volunteer docents who have been presenting for over 25 years. These folks are perhaps the most knowledgeable people at Cincinnati Museum Center. Honestly, they may be most knowledgeable people in the entire city of Cincinnati! I've attended several tours and lectures, and all of them have been amazing. Tours range from one hour to 3 hours to an all-day affair. I suggest taking the longer tours, as the docents have so many stories to share it's hard to cover everything in one hour. The following I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed: - Behind The Scenes at Union Terminal: climbed the "high steel" architecture above the Rotunda and viewed the working gears of the giant clock; viewed the Omnimax projection room; learned about engineering and upkeep of the Museum Center; saw the historical rail yards; talked with the Historical Library preservationist and viewed rare documents in the collection... and much more! - Subway Tour: Went INSIDE Cincinnati's subway system that was abandoned in 1928. This was preceded by a presentation with old construction photographs and storytelling. (Learn more about the subway here: http://www.thecincinnatisubway.com) - Union Terminal Rotunda Tour: Learned about the construction, architecture and art of the landmark, viewed the President's office and Rookwood Tea Room. (This takes place every weekend at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 and is FREE.) There are dozens more tours listed on their website. I've also heard many a lecture either at the Museum or at local libraries from Heritage Programs docents: - Cincinnati Subway - Cincinnati Inclines - Cincinnati German Heritage - Powell Crosley's empire - Cincinnati and the Erie Canal - Cincinnati from 1788-1925 - Cincinnati Brewing History - Sad, Steamy & Sinister Cincinnati - History of Cincinnati-style Chili What makes Heritage Programs special is that the docents LOVE talking about the city. Their passion makes the tours very entertaining: you're guaranteed to be smiling, laughing, and asking questions throughout. Heritage Programs tours and presentations are great for all ages, including children 10 & up. I see a lot of grandparents and grandchildren as well as parents with adult children having fun on the tours. Generally, guests tend to be 40-somethings or retirees, but as a younger adult, I think couples my age would be intrigued with the programs. Pricing for Heritage Programs tours varies from $25.00 to $80.00 (pricier tours include lunch and bus service.) Some tours and most lectures are free. You can also arrange a presentation for your group at the Museum Center or at your place of business. For the amount of awesome historical things you get to see, information, and vibrant storytelling you receive with a Heritage Programs tour, you're definitely getting your money's worth. Whether you're a lifetime Cincinnatian or a visiting tourist, you MUST take a Heritage Program tour!

This location has some amazing staff, especially, Mr. Eric. The selection is small, but where they…read morereally win the gold medal is with the building. A beautifully renovated mansion with every detail attended to.

What a breathtakingly beautiful library!!! Truly a gem. I'm from the West Coast, so nothing this…read moreold or pristine like this back home. Overall not a big library. Mainly just the bottom floor for library use. Upstairs has a meeting room and staff services. I'm sure you have to reserve the room ahead of time, but my goodness what a cool place to meet!

This marker is here in Mason because it was on this intersection that the railway made a turn. From…read morehere to Cincinnati is 25 miles and that's a nice distance for any railway, let alone one that was running in 1903. The front of the marker reads, "The Rapid Railway began operation in 1903 and was the Interurban Railway and Terminal Company's (IR&T) northernmost traction line. The IR&T began near Pleasant Ridge and Kennedy Heights in Cincinnati and connected to a street car line that originated downtown, on Sycamore Street, and passed through a total of fourteen municipalities. The interurban cars ran down Main Street through Mason before turning south onto Dawson Street, crossing Muddy Creek, and traveling to Kings Mills. From Kings Mills, the line continued to Lebanon where it terminated. The full ride from downtown Cincinnati to Lebanon took approximately one hour and fifty minutes." and on the reverse, "The Rapid Railway was vital to local munitions production during World War I. In 1916 the Peters Cartridge Company opened a new munitions factory on its site near the traction line in Kings Mills. Among other war materiel, the factory manufactured rifle and machine gun cartridges. Company advertisements noted the factory was accessible by interurban and workers were able to commute at a time before many owned automobiles. The IR&T abandoned the line in 1922, but it heralded a new era of mobility for the region and aided Warren County and the region's war effort." The marker was erected in 2017 by the City of Mason, Mason Historical Society and the Ohio History Connection. This is marker number 19-83. It is located on a corner so there is room to stop briefly to read the sign. I did not see any remnants of the line in the ground. [Review 18027 overall - 171 in Ohio - 1548 of 2022.]

I've been here twice now and am so grateful for this little library! It's much smaller than I…read moreexpected, but I with so many libraries within the Cincinnati region, I'm sure you can find just about any book and get it via placing it on hold. -- So do plan ahead if you're trying to find a specific book, you may want to check out the online catalog first to track it down. The reason I first went in was to print some papers and I forget how many copies you can get for free, but you can get a good amount of not just black and white but also color! So helpful for this gal that does not own a printer. The staff has also been super friendly! To get a library card you'll have to first apply online for a temporary card and then make your way in to receive the physical copy. Again, staff is so helpful. The top level is the main (adult) section. I enjoyed the fun feature: "What your Neighbors are Reading". Downstairs there's a little fish pond and children's section. Parking lot is in the back and is again smaller, but fits for the size of the building.

Free parking is available behind the library. The rear entrance is handicap accessible. It enters…read moreinto the children's section of the library. If using that entrance for the handicap accessibility, proceed all the way forward, that is where the elevators will be to take you to the regular library. There is also a night/after hours drop slot back there. The children's section is one of the cutest ones I have seen. There is a whimsical mural that wraps around the area. Various small chairs are peppered about, as are a selection of toys. Computers are available for children to play learning games. At the far end, (if standing at the rear entrance,) is a water feature. The small pond includes Koi fish. I am not fond of the fact that this branch is on multiple floors. We usually visit multiple sections of the library. Sometimes my older children will vist one area while my younger one and I visit another. When they are only an aisle or two away, I am comfortable with this arrangement. Having them be on separate floors I am not comfortable with. On the flip side, I can understand people who are visiting the library for a quiet place to work seeing this arrangement as preferable.

Road trip time and why not make an educational day trip to educate myself on History for the…read moreJuneteenth holiday. This museum is located in downtown Cincinnati Ohio. This museum pays tribute to all efforts to abolish human enslavement and securing freedom for all people. 3 levels of information from videos, to exhibits, to artifacts, to live speeches, live dances etc. Gift shop available for purchase. Parking is frustrating and chaotic. Street parking actually worked for me after driving around repeatedly trying to find available parking garages. Check website for pricing and days of operation. Great overall museum!

This is such an amazing museum. I recommend going to anyone that travels to Ohio. I learned a lots…read moreand I love that there is so much to do and see there. They also have a gift shop with great items to purchase.

The Norwood branch may be small, but it is a great neighborhood library. I frequently put books on…read morehold here and it is so convenient to just run in, check out my books, and go. All of the librarians that I've talked to are very friendly, and willing to answer questions and help you. Our library system has so many resources, I feel lucky to live in a city with such a strong library system. If you get the app, you are able to easily search events at all of their branches.

This is a nice older branch of the library that may feel a bit cluttered because of its age and…read morelack of space. When you enter notice the giant Rookwood vases to your left and right. These used to sit on the pedestals right outside the front door. There is a parking lot around the back of the library and Gordo's is directly across the street. This location is conveniently down Montgomery from Kroger making it an easy stop on the way to/from the grocery store.

Pretty. Nothing spectacular but neat. I was looking for things to do local in Cincinnati that are…read morefree and this came up as a option.

Commonly known as the Channel 9 castle, you won't find armored knights protecting our local news…read morestation. Elsinore Castle was erected in 1883 by the Cincinnati Waterworks to house a valve for water to be transported to Eden Park. The company was interested in enhancing the view of the park, and this location was the former main entrance. The castle was built be renown architect Samuel Hanneford, modeled after Kronberg Castle, which was featured in a local play of Hamlet. The real Kronberg Castle can be found in Denmark. When the Cincinnati Art Museum opened in 1886, stairs were placed at the base of Elsinore Castle. The steps were too steep to ever become popular and the Elsinore Castle soon lost its appeal as an entrance to Eden Park. A mere 100 years later, it was integrated into the landscaping of Channel 9 and is seen more as a landmark of the news station than of the park. Set alongside Gilbert Avenue, the public can still stop and photograph the castle, however it was sadly never used for anything magical, like kings and armored battle. Viewing Time: 15 minutes