The museum complex incorporates the original 1886 Schmidt Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The collection includes a significant number of works by the Rookwood Pottery Company, a seminal American ceramics manufacturer founded in Cincinnati.
The museum holds an extensive collection of ancient Nabataean art, one of the most comprehensive outside of Jordan.
The Cincinnati Art Museum was the first art museum to be built west of the Allegheny Mountains.
The museum features a dedicated center for the study of the art of the Ohio River Valley.
The building was designed by James W. McLaughlin, a prominent architect who shaped much of 19th-century Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art institutions in the United States, established in 1881 within the grounds of Eden Park. The collection comprises over 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years of human history. The museum is housed in a building complex that combines original Romanesque-style architecture with extensive modern expansions. Its permanent galleries feature significant holdings in Near Eastern, Far Eastern, and European art, alongside a notable American painting collection. A distinct focus is placed on the works of Cincinnati-born artists, including Frank Duveneck. The museum maintains an extensive library and archive for scholarly research. Rotating exhibitions are held regularly, often highlighting contemporary art or specific historical periods. It is recognized as a key anchor in the cultural landscape of the Midwest.
The museum's main entrance lobby featuring the grand staircase and high-arched architectural details.
Check the online exhibition calendar before visiting to see if specific traveling shows align with your interests.
Utilize the museum's interactive digital gallery guides to access deeper context on specific paintings.
Take advantage of the museum's location in Eden Park to combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Krohn Conservatory.
Attempting to view the entire 67,000-piece collection in a single visit, which leads to viewing fatigue; focus on specific wings or eras.
Closed on Mondays.
Refrain from touching artwork, using flash photography in restricted areas, or bringing large bags into the galleries.
