Cincinnati City Hall, Cincinnati, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

Cincinnati City Hall is the seat of city government in Cincinnati, Ohio, a large Richardsonian Romanesque building on Plum Street at 9th Street. It was designed by the local firm Samuel Hannaford and Sons and completed in 1893. It is one of the city's most striking late nineteenth century public buildings.

The story behind it

By the late 1800s Cincinnati was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the country, and it wanted a seat of government to match. The job went to Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the architects behind many of the city's best known buildings, including Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine. Construction ran through the late 1880s and into the early 1890s, and the building opened in 1893.

The architects chose the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was popular for civic buildings in America at the time. It favours heavy masonry, round arches and a solid, fortress-like presence. The building is still used as City Hall today, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What to look for

• Look at the heavy round arches and rough, massive stonework along the front, the hallmarks of the Richardsonian Romanesque style.
• Look up at the tall clock tower, which makes the building easy to spot from the surrounding streets.
• Notice the carved detail around the entrances and windows, which softens the bulk of the stone.
• Compare City Hall with its neighbours on and near Plum Street, such as the Plum Street Temple and St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, which show very different architectural styles within a short walk.

Tips for your visit

• The exterior is free to see at any time, and ten to fifteen minutes is enough to walk around it and take photos.
• It is a working government building, so access to the interior depends on the day. Check current opening hours and visitor rules before you plan to go inside.
• Morning and late afternoon light brings out the texture of the stone best, and weekends are usually quieter around the building.
• Fountain Square, the main library and the Over-the-Rhine district are all within walking distance, so it fits easily into a longer stroll through downtown.

See it on a quest

Three self-guided quests in Cincinnati pass this area. In Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Cincinnati, you reach City Hall on foot as one stop on a longer route through downtown, the app tells you about the place when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

If you prefer a lighter theme, The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Cincinnati works the same way. You walk between the places, hear what each one is about, and solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

For a spy-flavoured walk, try Cincinnati Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. It is played on your phone with no guide and no group to join, and you can start whenever you like. One ticket covers the whole group.