Cincinnati Art Deco

Art Deco, daring and almost defiant in its optimism, reflected the spirit of a restless time. Bursting forth in the midst of the Roaring Twenties, an age when there seemed to be no limits, this new art form was both elegant and modern. Cincinnati is fortunate to have three stunning examples of this unique style: the sophisticated Hilton Netherland Plaza hotel, the overwhelming Cincinnati Times-Star Building, and the Union Terminal. Beyond these giants, the Greater Cincinnati region is studded with many other breathtaking examples of Art Deco, from a water tower decorated with Christmas lights to stunning neighborhood theaters and apartment buildings to mythological creatures guarding a Masonic temple in northern Kentucky. There is no doubt that Art Deco is alive and well in Cincinnati, so grab a hip flask of bathtub gin, put on some Glenn Miller, and explore the elegance and history of Cincinnati Art Deco.

Steven J. Rolfes is the author of the Arcadia Publishing title Cincinnati Landmarks and the coauthor of Historic Downtown Cincinnati. Doug Weise is a photographer, a historian, and a member of the Price Hill Historical Society. Both writers are interpreters at the Cincinnati History Museum at the Museum Center at Union Terminal.