16 Best Cincinnati Landmarks in 2023 (By a Local)

I grew up in Cincinnati and in this guide, I’ll give you an inside look into the most dazzling Cincinnati landmarks! 

This article features parks, museums, sculptures, and historic sites throughout Cincinnati, OH. It also includes sports arenas, cultural centers, and a few hidden gems with architecture that will blow your mind. 

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16 Famous Cincinnati Landmarks

Great American Building

The tallest building in Cincinnati, with a top resembling a queen’s tiara.

📍 Google Maps | Queen City Square Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

The Great American Building of Queen City Square is a newer development in the downtown area. It opened on East 4th St. in January 2011. The tower consists of 41 stories and is 665 feet tall. It is the tallest building in Cincinnati and the third tallest in Ohio.

The top of the structure has a shape inspired by Princess Diana of Wales’ tiara. It’s very fitting as part of the Cincinnati skyline, considering that it is, indeed, the Queen City!

Cincinnati Museum Center / Union Terminal

A historically significant train station and modern museum site.

📍 Google Maps | Cincinnati Museum Center Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Expedia

Union Terminal, constructed in 1933, was originally Cincinnati’s train depot. Now, you may better know this building as the Cincinnati Museum Center. 

It is home to the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, and an Omnimax Theater. With so many attractions, visiting is one of the best things to do in Cincinnati! 

The structure is the largest half-dome in the Western Hemisphere and is an incredible example of the art deco style. The famous mural on the back illustrates a timeline of American history, including the evolution of Cincinnati, OH.

Union Terminal had ceased passenger operations for 19 years, but it began serving passengers again with Amtrak in 1991. It remains the only active train station in the city, in addition to being one of Cincinnati’s most important historical landmarks.

Findlay Market

A historic public market that offers the best of Cincinnati.

📍 Google Maps | Findlay Market Website | 👉 Findlay Market Guided Tours

Findlay Market is in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, one of the best places to stay in Cincinnati. It is the oldest continually-operating public market in Ohio. Findlay Market has been a Cincinnati institution for 150 years. And, it has been a part of the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.

Browsing the market is free. Additionally, guided tours are offered to educate people on the market’s history and current special vendors.

This is a great place to buy organic produce, meats, pastries, and much more. You can purchase products from local farmers or food items from other parts of the world. There are a variety of specialty cafes and shops in this location as well.

📚 Related Reading: Is Cincinnati Safe?

Cincinnati Music Hall

An ideal performance venue for anyone who wants a night of culture.

📍 Google Maps | Cincinnati Music Hall Website | 👉 Self-Guided Cincinnati Haunted Walking Tour

Cincinnati Music Hall was designed in 1878 by Samuel Hannaford. Located on Elm St., the imposing building is an impressive example of Gothic Revival architecture. This National Historic Landmark has a prestigious legacy. Several prominent historical figures have attended its events. It is truly one of the best places to visit in Ohio!

Today, Music Hall is the site of performances by the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra have the same members. Pops Orchestra performances feature music popular in contemporary culture, including movie theme songs.

The Cincinnati Opera and Ballet are also known for powerful, emotional performances. The May Festival Chorus is a talented group that performs for an annual two-week festival.

👻 Fun Fact: Music Hall was built on top of a graveyard, and there are reports of ghostly encounters at this location that date back to 1875. Learn more by taking this self-guided audio tour! 

Capitoline Wolf Statue

A unique statue in Eden Park with a shocking history.

📍 Google Maps | Capitoline Wolf Statue Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

This bronze statue is located in Eden Park, one of the best parks in Cincinnati. It depicts a nursing female wolf and stands out among the green spaces and gazebos. 

The sculpture honors Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman statesman and the namesake of this city. Believe it or not, it was gifted to Cincinnati by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

The two young male wolves represent Romulus and Remus, who are well-known symbols of the Roman people. The she-wolf is their mother figure. The statue is a replica of one in Musei Capitolini.

Tyler Davidson Fountain

A stunning fountain in the heart of downtown Cincinnati with a deeper meaning.

📍 Google Maps | Fountain Square Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

The Tyler Davidson Fountain is seen by many as the centerpiece of the city. It is located in Fountain Square on Vine St. and is also known as The Genius of Water. It is an homage to the Ohio River and its role in the history and development of Cincinnati, OH.

First cast in Europe, this was originally built as a drinking fountain and a symbol that water was free and available to everyone in the city. The bronze figures surrounding the fountain depict people using water in different ways.

The fountain was designed in 1871 by architect Ferdinand von Miller. This beautifully crafted bronze sculpture is a great backdrop for all of the happenings of Fountain Square. These include festivals, community events, live music, and people enjoying an ice skating rink in the winter.

Great American Ballpark

A classic ballpark where Cincinnatians can root for their home team.

📍 Google Maps | Great American Ballpark Website | 👉 Great American Ballpark Tours and Cincinnati Reds Tickets

The Great American Ballpark takes its patrons back to the good old days. It offers them a classic experience of one of Cincinnati’s oldest traditions: baseball games. It replaced Cinergy Field in 2003, in favor of a more traditional name and feel.

The Cincinnati Reds are famed as the first professional baseball team in the United States. Watching them play a home game here is a time-honored Queen City experience. 

Every time they hit a home run, you’ll get to see fireworks blasting out of the smokestacks! This feature is modeled after American Queen, a historic steamboat.

Paul Brown Stadium

A modern football stadium where locals and tourists can root for a great team!

📍 Google Maps | Great American Ballpark Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

Paul Brown Stadium is home to the Cincinnati Bengals. Along with the Great American Ballpark, it replaced the original Cinergy stadium, which was shared by the Bengals and Reds. The stadium was established in 2000.

This stadium is adjacent to the Reds stadium, with a street in between where patrons can enjoy festivities and go bar hopping. You can also enjoy breathtaking views of the Ohio River in this open-air stadium.

Starting in late September, you’ll be able to see the Cincinnati Bengals work their magic. Long known as a terrible team, they’ve made one of the best comebacks of any football team in history!

Carew Tower

One of the tallest skyscrapers in downtown Cincinnati, OH.

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Carew Tower is one of the Cincinnati landmarks of great historical significance. It was built in 1930 and was among the tallest skyscrapers in America at the time. 

The tower stands 49 stories high on Fifth Street and is one of the best examples of French art deco architecture in the world. It’s home to an art deco shopping center, and the interior contains beautiful Rookwood pottery floral tiles.

The skyscraper is also home to the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, one of the finest hotels in Cincinnati. The hotel contains a five-diamond restaurant and a hotel bar reminiscent of the early 20th century.

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The Futuro House

A part of the Covington community that resembles a flying saucer.

📍 Google Maps | The Futuro House Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

Technically, the Futuro House is in Covington, Kentucky. However, no list of Cincinnati, OH landmarks would be complete without this unique structure. Visiting makes for one of the best day trips from Cincinnati! 

In the 1960s and 1970s, Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed nearly 100 homes that resembled flying saucers. One of these landed permanently in Covington in 1987.

This is a private residence, so a visit would be confined to the outside. However, its presence has been embraced by the city. November 2, the anniversary of its purchase, is even dedicated to this house as “Futuro House Day.”

The Mushroom House

A Hyde Park house straight out of a storybook.

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This house in Hyde Park was designed by Terry Brown, a University of Cincinnati professor of architecture and interior design. Construction was completed in 2006. If you see this house from the street, you’ll be in awe of the winding entry staircase and the distorted shapes of the exterior.

The construction comprises warped wood shingles, ceramic material, glass, and metal. The otherworldly appearance is reminiscent of a surrealist painting or bizarre fairy tale. The structure resembles a giant mushroom.

Brown spent 14 years constructing this one-bedroom, one-bath house. It was his second home until he died in 2008. It’s one of the most unique landmarks in Cincinnati, OH, for sure!

Cincinnati City Hall

A government building whose appearance will trick your brain.

📍 Google Maps | Cincinnati City Hall Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

Like Music Hall, Cincinnati City Hall was designed by Samuel Hannaford. This Romanesque building on Plum St. opened in 1893. 

It consists of four and a half stories and a clock tower that is twice the height of the main building. The clever design of this structure incorporates forced perspective. This is an optical trick that makes the building look quite a bit bigger than it really is.

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

A striking cathedral modeled after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

📍 Google Maps | Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Expedia

This Roman Catholic cathedral is another landmark in Covington, Kentucky. However, it’s so impressive that it still makes the list of best Cincinnati landmarks. The building was modeled after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption contains three pipe organs and one of the largest stained glass windows of any church in the world. Pictured is Mary’s Coronation after her Assumption.

You’ll also be in awe when looking at the elements of Gothic architecture. These include vaulted arches, rose windows, flying buttresses, and 26 gargoyle water spouts.

There are only 35 of these minor basilicas in the nation. The title is reserved for buildings of comparable historical importance and dignity.

Taft Museum of Art

A historical house with a cool art collection inside.

📍 Google Maps | Taft Museum of Art Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

The Taft Museum of Art is located downtown on Pike St. It is one of the multiple Cincinnati establishments named after the Taft family. This museum was once the home of President William H. Taft’s brother. The rooms still contain items and relics that belonged to the family.

The museum also features a permanent collection alongside rotating exhibits. It contains fine art from Europe and America, including one of the most astounding gothic ivory sculptures in the US.

👉 Love Historical Homes? The Betts House in West End is the oldest brick building and oldest residential house in Cincinnati, OH. Though the interior is closed to visitors, it’s a noteworthy structure to see from the outside. 

Cincinnati Observatory

An old-fashioned building with a futuristic purpose.

📍 Google Maps | Cincinnati Observatory Website | 👉 Browse Nearby Hotels on Booking

This National Historic Landmark in Mt. Lookout is the oldest professional observatory in the state. It has been preserved to maintain its old-fashioned look, with a notable dome added on top in 1895. 

However, on the inside is a strong emphasis on the study of modern and future astronomy. It’s known for its humongous telescope that can be used during the day or night.

John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge

An inspiration for future architecture and an iconic part of the city skyline.

📍 Google Maps | John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Website | 👉 Browse John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Tours

The common belief is that this was the model for the iconic Brooklyn Bridge — also built by architect John A. Roebling. This bridge came very close to not existing. It was almost defunded more than once, and it was only completed because Cincinnati was at risk of siege during the Civil War.

The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge was the longest suspension bridge on the planet when it opened to traffic in 1867. The original name was the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge. This bridge traversed the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati to Covington, Kentucky.

The castle-like columns of this bridge have stood tall for over 150 years and are an integral part of the Cincinnati skyline. While it’s mostly cars that cross this bridge, people can also walk across its 1,057 feet. They can experience close-up views of its craftsmanship and the Ohio River right below.

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I hope you enjoyed my list of the top Cincinnati landmarks! Each is worth a visit, whether to tour or simply see up close. Happy exploring!