Williams was born in Pennsylvania, which had long since abolished slavery. Under a different name, he joined the army at the age of 14 years old and fought in the Civil War. After the war he went to Mexico to fight against the rule of Emperor Maximilian. He earned the rank of Lieutenant for his role in that war. After returning to the U.S., in 1868 he&nbsp;decided to obtain an education (his learning growing up was limited) and attended Newton Theological Institute in Boston. He served as a Baptist minister and started a newspaper called "The Commoner." He then moved to Cincinnati to become minister for the Union Baptist Church in the late 1870s. He was then elected to the Ohio State Legislature in 1879, becoming the first African American member of that body. He only served one term but wanted to continue writing anyway. This is what led him to write the books and why he traveled to England.

The marker was erected in 2003. Photo: William Fischer, Jr.

Situated outside of the entrance to Union Baptist Church, this marker honors the remarkable life of George Washington Williams (1849-1891), a prominent African American figure of the second half of the 19th century. Williams, who died at the age of 41, was a Baptist minister, lawyer, soldier in the U.S. Army (he also served in Mexico), journalist, and historian. His most notable works are two books on African American history: "History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880" (published in 1882), and "A History of the Negro Troops in the War of the Rebellion" (published in 1888). Both were well received. Another of his writings, a open letter he wrote to King Leopold of Belgium in 1890 criticizing the brutality the people in the Congo—which was a Belgian colony at that time—suffered under Leopold's rule, earned him fame as well. Sadly, Williams died not long after he arrived in England to write a book about Africa.

Historical Marker: George Washington Williams

This walking tour includes historic buildings, churches, markers, monuments, and museums, as well as significant historic events that occurred in downtown Cincinnati. From historical markers to diverse Cincy residents from Stephen Foster to Elizabeth Blackwell, along with sites related to the early history of the city, slavery and abolition, the Civil War, and historic businesses, this tour winds through the downtown area and concludes at the Freedom Center. Enjoy!

The church underwent a complete marble restoration 1957. In total, 600 tons of new marble, both exterior and interior,&nbsp;replaced the original marble.&nbsp;

Located across the street from City Hall, Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral is architecturally one of the more unique Catholic churches in the country. Built in 1845, its Greek Revival design, particularly in the interior, is quite striking compared to other churches built in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries which were typically designed in the Gothic or Romanesque styles. The exterior features large Corinthian columnns at the entrance and a tall, 224 ft. high spire. Large bronze doors also highlight the entrance. Inside, Corinthian columnns line each side of the church. On the rear wall, behind the altar, is the largest Venetian glass mosaic in the country (35 ft. high and 40 ft. wide). It depicts a young Jesus Christ sitting on a throne. The church also possesses some unique and priceless items. One of these is a processional cross with a gold corpus created by Italian artist Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) that was originally located in a private chapel in Florence, Italy. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral 

The congregation is named after one of its early rabbis, Isaac M. Wise (1879-1900), the man responsible for starting the American Reform Judaism movement. He served as rabbi for the congregation for 54 years beginning in 1854. Wise also founded the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1873), the Hebrew Union College (1875), and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (1889). Rabbis are still ordained at the Plum Street Temple. It was here in 1972 that the first female rabbi, Sally Priesand, was ordained.

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975, the Plum Street Temple is one of the most unique and beautiful buildings in Cincinnati. It was built in 1866 as the third temple for the K.K. B'nai Yeshurun congregation, which formed in 1840 and is now called the Isaac M. Wise Temple. The congregation has two locations, the temple building and the Isaac M. Wise Center, which is located at 8329 Ridge Road.

Plum Street Temple

The youngest of several children, William Henry Harrison was born into privilege on his family’s planation along the James River in the colony of Virginia on February 9, 1773. His father, Benjamin Harrison V, was a wealthy and well-connected planter and politician who later signed the Declaration of Independence and served as governor of Virginia in the early 1780s. The younger Harrison took instruction from private tutors before enrolling at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, where he received a classical education. According to his father’s wishes, he then studied medicine in Philadelphia under the esteemed physician and Founding Father, Benjamin Rush. Soon after Harrison commenced his medical studies, his father died unexpectedly in the spring of 1791. With his late father’s estate going to his older brothers, he founded himself unable to pay for his education. Lacking a passion for the medical field anyway, Harrison decided to change career paths and secured a commission as an ensign in an infantry division in the U.S. Army. Assigned to Fort Washington near the settlement of Cincinnati in the vast Northwest Territory, he served under the command of General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Harrison quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant before becoming an aide-de-camp to Wayne. He also participated in the campaign against the area’s Native Americans that culminated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August 1794, which opened much of present-day Ohio to white settlement. A few years later, Harrison received a promotion to the rank of captain. In June 1798, however, he resigned his commission.Later that same year, Harrison became secretary of the Northwest Territory. The next year, he became its first delegate to Congress. During his brief stint on Capitol Hill, Harrison served on the committee that recommended splitting the Northwest Territory in two: an eastern part that remained the Northwest Territory and a western part that became known as the Indiana Territory. In the spring of 1800, President John Adams appointed him governor of the newly created Indiana Territory. While serving in the position, Harrison led U.S. troops to victory against a sizeable force of Native American warriors led by a Shawnee spiritual leader known as The Prophet at the Battle of Tippecanoe in November 1811. His victory gained him national fame and earned him the nickname “Tippecanoe.” Following the outbreak of the War of 1812, Harrison received a commission as a brigadier general and assumed command of all federal troops in the Northwest Territory. In March 1813, he received a promotion to the rank of major general. After the conflict, Harrison settled in Ohio and resumed his political career. In 1816, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving until 1819. That same year, Harrison was elected to the Ohio State Senate, where he remained until 1821. After an unsuccessful bid to return to the U.S. House of Representatives the next year, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1824. By the mid 1830s, Harrison had his sights set on the highest office in the land. In 1836, the nascent and unorganized Whig Party nominated four candidates for President of the United States, of which Harrison was one. Unable to agree on a single candidate, the party hoped to deny the Democratic nominee, Vice President Martin Van Buren, a majority of the electoral votes and send the election to the House. The plan failed and Van Buren moved into the White House. Four years later, the party nominated only one candidate, Harrison. That November, he defeated Van Buren comfortably. Harrison took the oath of office on March 4, 1841, a cold and rainy day in the nation’s capital. Without an overcoat or gloves, the sixty-eight-year-old delivered a two-hour-long inaugural address. In subsequent days, the cold that Harrison contracted on inauguration day slowly developed into pneumonia. He died on April 4 in Washington, D.C. With his untimely demise, Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office. He remains the shortest-serving president in American history.Nearly fifty years later, a group of Cincinnati residents formed a commission with the intent of erecting a statue of Harrison in the city. The group initiated a design contest in 1886 and solicited submissions from artists. That same year, the Ohio General Assembly contributed $25,000 to the project. In 1887, the commission selected the proposal submitted by Louis Rebisso, an Italian-born sculptor who later settled in the city and taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Dedicated in Piatt Park on May 30, 1896, the bronze equestrian statue depicts Harrison in full military garb, sitting upright on his horse. Scanning the horizon, he holds the reigns in his left hand, while his right holds his unsheathed sword at his side. The only equestrian statue in Cincinnati, it rests on a massive pedestal of Barre granite. Originally installed at the end of the park near Vine Street, the sculpture and its pedestal were moved to the park’s Elm Street end during renovations in 1988.

This statue commemorates the ninth President of the United States, William Henry Harrison (1773-1841). Born in Virginia, he died from pneumonia a mere thirty-one days into his term. With his untimely demise, Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office. He remains the shortest-serving president in American history. Prior to becoming president, Harrison served as an officer in the U.S. Army and represented his adopted state of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Nearly fifty years after his death, a group of Cincinnati residents formed a commission with the intent of erecting a statue of Harrison in the city. The group initiated a design contest in 1886 and solicited submissions from artists. That same year, the Ohio General Assembly contributed $25,000 to the project. In 1887, the commission selected the proposal submitted by Louis Rebisso, an Italian-born sculptor who later settled in the city and taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Dedicated in Piatt Park on May 30, 1896, the bronze equestrian statue depicts Harrison in full military garb, sitting upright on his horse. Scanning the horizon, he holds the reigns in his left hand, while his right holds his unsheathed sword at his side. The only equestrian statue in Cincinnati, it rests on a massive pedestal of Barre granite. Originally installed at the end of the park near Vine Street, the sculpture and its pedestal were moved to the park’s Elm Street end during renovations in 1988.

William Henry Harrison Statue

James Abram Garfield was born in a log cabin on November 19, 1831 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Before his second birthday, his father died, forcing his mother to not only raise him and his siblings, but also manage the small, struggling family farm. A bright child, Garfield escaped his harsh reality by reading voraciously. Initially yearning to become a sailor and travel the world, he settled for a job as a mule team driver on the Ohio and Erie Canal. Somehow, Garfield scraped together enough money to enroll at Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College). After two years there, he attended Williams College in Massachusetts, graduating in 1856. Garfield then returned to Western Reserve Eclectic Institute to become a professor of classical languages. Only a year later, at the age of twenty-five, he became the school’s president. A member of the newly formed Republican Party, Garfield won a seat in the Ohio legislature in 1859. When southern slaveholding states began to secede, he advocated for the use of force to preserve the Union. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Garfield received a commission as a colonel and helped organize the Forty-Second Ohio Infantry. Early in the conflict, he saw combat in eastern Kentucky and at the Siege of Corinth and the Battle of Shiloh. In the fall of 1862, Garfield was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Initially hesitant to resign his commission, he required some convincing. Garfield received it from none other than President Abraham Lincoln, who thought highly of him and was in search of effective Republicans in Congress. Before taking office, however, he became Chief of Staff for Major General William S. Rosecrans, commander of the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863. Later that year, he left the U.S. Army at the rank of major general. Unlike his tenure in the military, Garfield’s time in Congress was lengthy. He won reelection eight times, serving for a total of eighteen years on Capitol Hill, eventually becoming the leading Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1880, the Ohio legislature elected him to the U.S. Senate, but Garfield never took his seat. That same year, the Republican Party selected him as their nominee for President of the United States. In the fall, Garfield won a close election, defeating Democratic nominee Winfield Scott Hancock, who also served as a U.S. Army general during the Civil War. Less than four months after his inauguration, on July 2, 1881, he was shot twice by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled officer seeker, while waiting at a train station in Washington, D.C. The first bullet merely grazed Garfield, but the second penetrated his back and lodged itself deep within his abdomen, settling behind his pancreas. For several weeks, Garfield languished in pain as doctors unsuccessfully searched for the projectile. Riddled with infection from the countless unsterile examinations, he passed away on September 19 at the age of forty-nine. He was buried in Cleveland’s Lake View Cemetery. In the wake of Garfield’s death, the City of Cincinnati moved to erect a statue of him in the city, and in 1883 commissioned Cincinnati-born sculptor Charles Henry Niehaus to design it. Unveiled on December 1, 1887 and paid for by public subscriptions, the bronze statue depicts Garfield standing, dressed in a suit and overcoat. Holding a stack of papers in his right hand and gesturing with his left, he looks out onto the horizon as if about to deliver a speech. Originally, the sculpture rested on a tall pedestal in the middle of the intersection of Eighth and Race Streets. After nearly three decades of frustrating motorist and buggy drivers, the statue was moved inside Eighth Street Park (now Piatt Park), a short distance from the intersection, and placed on a new, shorter pedestal. In 1988, when the park underwent renovations, the statue was moved to its current location at the park’s Vine Street end.

Unveiled on December 1, 1887, this monument commemorates the twentieth President of the United States, James A. Garfield (1831-1881). A native of Ohio and U.S. Army general during the Civil War, he served for nine terms in the U.S House of Representatives as a Republican before being elected president in 1881. Less than four months after his inauguration, on July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot twice by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled officer seeker, while waiting at a train station in Washington, D.C. For several weeks, he languished in pain as doctors unsuccessfully searched for one of the projectiles. Riddled with infection from the countless unsterile examinations, he passed away on September 19. In the wake of Garfield’s death, the City of Cincinnati moved to erect a statue of him in the city, and in 1883 commissioned Cincinnati-born sculptor Charles Henry Niehaus to design it. Paid for by public subscriptions, the bronze statue depicts Garfield standing, dressed in a suit and overcoat. Holding a stack of papers in his right hand and gesturing with his left, he looks out onto the horizon as if about to deliver a speech. Originally, the sculpture rested on a tall pedestal in the middle of the intersection of Eighth and Race Streets. After nearly three decades of frustrating motorist and buggy drivers, the statue was moved inside Eighth Street Park (now Piatt Park), a short distance from the intersection, and placed on a new, shorter pedestal. In 1988, when the park underwent renovations, the statue was moved to its current location at the park’s Vine Street end.

James A. Garfield Statue

Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in&nbsp;1821. She and her family moved to the United States, first settling in New York City and then moving to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1838. Like her family, Elizabeth was&nbsp;socially active, involved in the abolition and women's rights movements, enjoying public lectures, attending various religious services, and beginning a school with her sisters. She was initially opposed to the study of medicine, as she wrote in her book: "The very thought of dwelling on the physical structure of the body and its various ailments filled me with disgust."&nbsp;Blackwell changed her mind after&nbsp;her dying female friend shared that she might have received better care had a female doctor cared for her. Blackwell then put all her energies into pursuing her new dream of becoming a doctor. Blackwell applied to numerous medical schools throughout the northeast. Her acceptance by Geneva Medical College in New York (today&nbsp;Hobart and William Smith Colleges) was sort of an accident. The school allowed the all-male student body to vote whether to accept Elizabeth. To make a joke of it, they voted yes. As a result, she was accepted in 1847 and graduated two years later. She then traveled to Paris to further her studies in obstetrics but returned to New York City after losing sight in one eye and therefore the opportunity to study surgery. After turned down from a job in a women's department at another dispensary, Blackwell decided to open her own in 1853 in New York City. This dispensary grew quickly and became the&nbsp;Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857. By 1967, the Infirmary opened a medical school for women. She later established a similar school in London. Along with her sisters, Blackwell partook in the aiding soldiers in the Civil War. When the United States Sanitary Commission rejected her plan to train nurses, Blackwell and her female colleagues established the&nbsp;Women's Central Association of Relief. The Association worked with the Army to select, train, and communicate with nurses across the Union, while also coordinating the collection and dissemination of supplies. Blackwell personally met with the&nbsp;Army Medical Department and the Secretary of War to advocate for her cause. Though health issues forced her to retire from medicine in 1877, Blackwell remained an active figure in the medical field. She returned to Europe and was involved in social and health reform campaigns, and was especially interested in the intersection of medicine, morality, and religion. She published nearly twenty books in her lifetime. She died in 1910 in England. In 2003, the&nbsp;Ohio Bicentennial Commission and Ohio Historical Society (today the Ohio History Connection) recognized her contributions to medicine and her residence in Cincinnati with a historical plaque at the YWCA.

This marker commemorates the pioneering life and work of physician Elizabeth Blackwell. Born in 1821 in Bristol, England, Elizabeth was the first woman in American history to earn a fully accredited medical degree. She achieved this milestone in 1849 from Geneva Medical College in New York City. She also advocated for the education of women in medicine as well as other causes such as abolition. Her sister Emily was the third woman in the country to receive a medical degree. Along with her sister and another female doctor, Elizabeth opened a hospital called the Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857. Eventually, she established a medical college for women there in 1867. She died in Sussex, England in 1910.

Historical Marker: Elizabeth Blackwell

Situated in a median on Main St. and Central Parkway, this marker is one of a series called the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission Historical Markers. The series marks the location of old military roads dating to the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 that have now become modern roads. This marker states that Reading Road (one block to the north) and Central Parkway were two such military roads. The top of the marker features a carved metal depiction of marching troops accompanied by a wagon.

Historical Marker: Military Roads

Simon Arnold opened his tavern in 1861 in a pair of
buildings that were once a barber shop and a feed store. In 1920, the United
States entered Prohibition, which made selling alcohol illegal. As a means to
survive in an era where taverns could not sell alcohol, Arnold’s added a
kitchen and converted the tavern into a café. The upstairs living quarters
became a dining space, and it is rumored that the bathtub on the second floor
was used for bathtub gin. The bathtub remains a piece of local folklore to this
day.

Arnold’s would remain a family-owned business for
ninety-eight years until 1976, when Jim Tarbell acquired the tavern. He added a
dinner menu and opened the courtyard to create the first outdoor dining location
in Cincinnati in decades. When the courtyard was added, Tarbell built a stage
and created a longstanding tradition of having live music every weekend,
ranging in style from piano and jazz to folk music and bluegrass. The current
owner of the bar is
Ronda Androski, who continues to run it as a family business with her son and
daughter-in-law.

A popular piece of superstition surrounding the bar is that
it is haunted. The owner, employees, and customers have all claimed to either
see something they cannot explain or to have the feeling that they are not
alone. Some believe that the "ghost" is a former employee who died
some years back while others believe that there might be more than one. (Of
course, nothing regarding these claims has been proven.)

Arnold’s Bar and Grill is now a popular destination and is
frequently touted as one of the best dining locations in Cincinnati.&nbsp;Arnold's won the 2013 awards for "Best Outdoor Dining" and "Best Live Music While You Eat" from CityBeat's "Best of Cincinnati,"&nbsp;and placed among the top three for business lunch and overall bars in Cincinnati.&nbsp;&nbsp;Esquire magazine listed it as one of the
top sixteen bars in America in 2013.

Simon Arnold opened his tavern in 1861 in a building that once housed a barber shop and a feed store. During Prohibition, Arnold’s added a kitchen and was converted to a café. Though selling alcohol was illegal at the time, folk legends say that Arnold used the bathtub on the second floor to make gin (the tub remains a piece of folklore today). Arnold’s family lived upstairs from the tavern, which was family owned for ninety-eight years until Jim Tarbell bought it and expanded the courtyard to host the first outdoor dining location in downtown Cincinnati in decades. Arnold’s Bar and Grill is now a popular destination and is frequently touted as one of the best dining locations in Cincinnati. 

Arnold's Bar and Grill

&nbsp;

On April 11,
1836, a mob of whites attacked an abolitionist newspaper called The Philanthropist demanding the abolishment
of slavery. Then the mob that attacked the Black residents of Church Alley. A
group of men on the 12th of July numbering 30 or 40 started an
assault on Achilles Pugh at the printer’s home at midnight by scaling the high
wall with the help of a ladder. They got inside so they could destroy the paper
and press but they saw a young boy. Instead of killing him, they kept him from
being able to see what they were doing so there would be no witnesses to what
they were doing. But other people who were in the intersections did see what
they had done but no one tried to interfere with what they saw going on. This
incident was an expression against the abolition of slavery that some of the
people in the city were wanting to happen.

On the night of
the 30th there was another mob attack but this time the rioters were
determined to destroy the press and to burn the papers. Joseph Graham opposed
the burning of the papers in the streets of Main and 17th and
insisted on having them all thrown into the river to prevent fires from
spreading to the buildings.

After destroying
the press and throwing the papers into the river, another attack happened but
this time it was on the residences of some who were loyal to the Blacks. When
the mob arrived, two shots from the Church Alley were fired at them. It was
believed that one man was wounded in the attack. Then at midnight there was a
second attack but the homes were empty of residents. However, the interior
contents and possessions were destroyed.&nbsp;

As Blacks escaped slavery in the Southern States, they fled to the North, to cities like Cincinnati where they ended up competing with whites for jobs. Tensions between pro-slavery whites and abolitionist whites provoked riots to break out in the months of April and July. Pro-slavery whites attacked both Blacks and whites who were giving support to the former slaves.


Cincinnati Riots of 1836

The current building is the third church at this location. The first one, called Christ Church,&nbsp;was built in 1819 and was originally located at Liberty and Vine, but was moved here in 1821. That year, Cincinnati became a diocesan seat. A second, brick church replaced the first—which was made of wood—in the 1820s. In 1845, a new cathedral was built (Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral) and the diocese asked the Jesuits to operate the church on&nbsp;Sycamore Street. It was dedicated to St. Francis Xavier this year.&nbsp;

Built in 1861, St. Francis Xavier Church is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. It is administered by the Society of Jesuits (whose priests are referred to as Jesuits). A 1987 renovation transformed the interior of the church from a dull beige color to a lively blue and white color combination. The interior also features a large mural painted by Cincinnati artist Charles C. Svendsen, the windows contain colorful stained glass depicting various religious motifs and figures such as the church's namesake St. Francis Xavier, and various marble statues. The congregation consists of Catholics who come from 105 zip codes including northern Kentucky. The parish provides many social and community service activities for congregants. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

St. Francis Xavier Church

Henry Boyd escaped slavery by buying his freedom at the age
of 18. Born on a plantation near Paris, Kentucky on April 12, 1802 to a slave
mother, Boyd would go on to start a successful business, buy land, and help others
gain their freedom.&nbsp;He moved to
Cincinnati, Ohio in 1826 where he created the H. Boyd Company and raised his
family. He and his wife built their home at #15 New Street in downtown
Cincinnati and lived there for the rest of their lives. New Street still
exists, but the home has been demolished.

Henry Boyd began his life in slavery, but was able to change
his circumstances by purchasing his freedom at age 18.&nbsp;He was listed as Mulatto in Census records
during his years in Cincinnati raising the possibility that his White slave master
was also his father. This may explain why&nbsp;Boyd was taught to read and allowed to
buy his freedom.

His life is one where
hard work enabled him to live comfortably, but also one where he recognized
that other slaves did not often have his opportunities. He had been taught to
read and write as a child, he had been apprenticed to a cabinet maker giving
him a skill, and he had been allowed to work for extra money to buy his
freedom. These advantages made it possible for him to leave slavery, build a
successful business, and become part of Cincinnati’s bustling commercial
sector. Throughout his life he used these advantages to purchase freedom for
relatives, support schools for African-American children, and quietly assist
the Underground Railroad.

Boyd first arrived in
Cincinnati at age twenty-four. He sought work in construction and woodworking,
but found that even in the free state of Ohio his race greatly limited
opportunities.&nbsp; When White supervisors
were open to hire him, White employees would refuse to work with him. He
subsisted on manual labor jobs&nbsp;on the Ohio River docks until he finding a position as a store janitor. One of the many anecdotes about Henry
Boyd’s life is that a White carpenter was brought in to build a counter for the
store where Boyd worked. The man was drunk and the storekeeper threw him out.
Boyd stepped forward and offered to build the counter. The storekeeper was so
impressed with his work that he continued to hire him for construction jobs and
it was from this small beginning that Boyd began his career as a fine furniture
builder.&nbsp;Eventually the H. Boyd Company
occupied four buildings and employed up to a hundred workers – both Black and
White.&nbsp;The furniture factory became
known for fine craftsmanship and sturdy, decorative bedsteads. Boyd Bedsteads
were a popular item that have since become rare and coveted antiques.&nbsp;A surviving Boyd Bedstead can be seen at the
Glendower Antebellum Mansion in Lebanon, Ohio.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Henry Boyd married Keziah Pickett and the couple would go on
to have several children. Their daughter Maria would be the only one to survive
into adulthood. At least one child was lost to cholera, which may explain
Henry’s interest in finding a cure. An editorial by Charles Hammond appeared in
the October 18, 1832 edition of the Liberty Hall &amp; Cincinnati Gazette
stating: “It is an old saying that in every emergency ‘even the weak may give
some help.’ Mr. Henry Boyd, a man of color, has suggested that the source of
cholera is in the water, and that it may be removed by boiling all the water we
use and letting it cool again before used.”&nbsp;
Unfortunately, this life-saving advice was not taken seriously and Cincinnati
endured several more decades of cholera before contaminated water was
identified as the cause.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Henry and Keziah's daughter Maria attended Oberlin College, then returned to Cincinnati.
She married Alexander Adams and they raised their five children in the Boyd
household. Henry lived&nbsp;there with his extended family until
his death in 1886. He is buried in in Spring Grove Cemetery. His New
Street home was torn down sometime after 1904 to make way for a parking garage.

Henry Boyd escaped slavery by buying his freedom at the age of 18. Born on a plantation near Paris, Kentucky on April 12, 1802, Boyd would go on to start a successful business, buy and sell property, and help others gain their freedom. He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1826 where he created the H. Boyd Company and raised his family.

Henry Boyd Home Site

Stephen was the first in the country to compose music that was genuinely American. Some of his famous tunes include "Oh, Susana", "Lou'siana Belle", and "Old Uncle Ned". Themes included politics, river life, slavery, battlefields, and love of home. Foster wrote the song "Oh Susana" to tell the story of a free Black man traveling on a riverboat. The song's original lyrics utilized&nbsp;racial slurs and were sung by white men performing in Blackface. Stephen came to Cincinnati to work as a bookkeeper at the Irwin and Foster Steamboat Company but that didn't last long as his music career started to take off. The city at the time was a sort of cultural melting pot, where Irish, Scottish, African slaves, and river workers intermingled. These influences inspired many of Stephen's songs. During much of the 1850s his music would be disseminated through the touring minstrel shows called Christy Minstrels. As the Civil War approached, Stephen's songwriting began to slump and his popularity waned, along with his income despite the royalties he earned from music deals. The money he did obtain went mostly to sustain his alcohol addiction. His wife (they married in 1850) and daughter left him prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.&nbsp;Stephen died alone in a flophouse in New York City, addicted to alcohol&nbsp;to the point he sold his own clothes&nbsp;and&nbsp;neglected his health. He cut himself while shaving and&nbsp;died of an infection in&nbsp;January, 1864, in a New York City slum.&nbsp;

This marker commemorates the brief and tragin life of Stephen C. Foster (1826-1864) who became America's first professional songwriter. Some even consider Foster as the "father of American music" owing to his creation of uniquely American melodies such as "Camptown Races" and "My Old Kentucky Home." Although many of his songs featured nostalgia for the American South, Foster was a northerner who only crossed the Mason-Dixon Line one time in his thirty-eight years of life. He lived in a house at this location between 1846-1850. His songs were inspired by the work of Dan Rice, a white performer who rose to fame by painting his face Black and performing bufoonish rituals meant to unite his white audience and reinforce their belief that they were superior to African Americans. Many of Foster's lyrics reflected the orientation of Rice's performances. And while American audiences continue to sing Foster's songs, it is important to note that some of the lyrics have been altered to remove their explicitly racist message.  

Historical Marker: Stephen C. Foster

Ft. Washington was a major military base from the years of 1789-1804 in the Northwest Territories. Sitting in what is now downtown Cincinnati, the fortified stockade served as a major area of settlement for troops, settlers, and supplies during the claiming of the Northwest Territories. It was named in honor of President George Washington and served as a defense against Indian attacks on settlers, most notable the Wabash and Miami villages in Indiana and Ohio. Gen. Josiah Harmar described the fort as “one of the most solid substantial wooden fortresses…of any in the Western Territory.” The origins of the fort began when the land started to be inhabited largely by pioneers. One in particular, Judge John Cleves Symmes, was a Continental congressman as well as New Jersey Supreme Court Justice. He and 60 other settlers established the community of North Bend on the Great Miami River in January 1789. In addition, there were two other small settlements established in the locality – Colombia and Losantiville (later to be renamed Cincinnati). Benjamin Stites was the founder of Colombia, and he was the reason many other settlers wanted to come to the area. Losantiville was founded by Mathias Denman and Colonel John Patterson. The reason this becomes important is because many of the Indians who lived in the area were in theory supposed to let white settlers inhabit the southern Ohio country area, as it was part of the agreements signed at Fort Stanwix, Fort Mcintosh, and Fort Finney. Issues arise, however, when it is taken into account that many were bribed or intimidated into signing. In addition, many of those who signed held no real power over the tribes in the area being inhabited. This led to increased resistance from Indians towards white settlers. To deal with this after many long months and years of conflict erupting between Indians and encroaching settlers, President George Washington had Governor Arthur St. Clair and General Josiah Harmar organize an expedition into Indian territory to deal with them for good. Though they were told to respect Indians under tribal authority and seek peace, the two sought other means of reconciliation, instead opting to wipe out the problem completely. Efforts for peace began to falter, and the Kentucky militia was called to join the 1st Regiment at Ft. Washington for a campaign against Wabash and Miami tribes. After little success, a second campaign was commanded by St. Clair, this time with orders to keep constant communication between Ft. Washington and Philadelphia, capitol of the US at the time. Disaster struck, however, after being overrun by an Indian leader named Little Turtle and his warriors, and it came to be known as St. Clair’s defeat. Fort Washington was like other western frontier forts in that they were increasingly abandoned by their inhabitants as the frontier line moved farther and farther west. By 1802 it only contained half a company, around 35 men. With the expansion of Cincinnati able to take place now that it was far enough in settled territory, the fort was in the way and ineffective, and was sold at auction after being abandoned on 1804. On June 14, 1901, a 9’ tall stone Ohio memorial was placed where the fort was thought to have stood – near the corners of 3rd and Broadway. During construction in 1952, workers found the remains of the forts powder magazine not far from Taft Museum and Fourth Street. After archaeologists researched the area, they found that it was the true location of the fort, and the monument was moved there in 1998, where it stands today just south of E. 4th St. on Arch St.

This small Cincinnati monument commemorates the historic site of Fort Washington, one of the most important forts of the late 18th century to be constructed in the Northwest Territories. Erected in 1789, the fort was used by traders and troops and was an important center for diplomacy and trade with area tribes. The fort also served as a way for the United States to stake a claim to this land and as a military installation to support troops and traders who both fought with and against several tribes in the area, particularly the Wabash and Miami. Used by Governor Arthur St. Clair and General Josiah Harmar as their base of operations, Fort Washington was critical in the western expansion of the United States until its decline and finally abandonment in 1804. A monument stands in its place just south of E. 4th St. on Arch St.

Monument for Cincinnati's Historic Fort Washington

Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County (now LaRue County), Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy (Hanks) Lincoln, were both born in Virginia and came from humble families. When Lincoln was seven years old, his family moved to Indiana. Two years later, his mother died. As a young man, he received very little formal education. Despite this, he possessed a voracious appetite for knowledge and read as much as possible, often by candlelight well into the night. In 1830, his father moved the family to Illinois. Two years later, Lincoln served as a militia captain during the Black Hawk War, but never saw combat. After his military service ended, he read law and attempted to launch a political career, campaigning for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly as a member of the Whig Party. Lincoln was defeated, but a second attempt in 1834 was successful. He would ultimately serve four terms in the Illinois General Assembly from 1835 to 1843. During this time, he received his law license and practiced in Springfield throughout his tenure in the state legislature. In 1842, after a tumultuous courtship, Lincoln married Mary Todd, the daughter of wealthy slave-owning family from Lexington, Kentucky. The couple met a few years earlier at a ball in Springfield. The marriage produced four sons, only one of whom (Robert Todd Lincoln) lived to adulthood. Four years later, Lincoln won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His time in Congress, however, was short-lived; serving only one term from 1847 to 1849. After, Lincoln resumed his legal career, but the passage of the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 reinvigorated his interest in politics. Four years later, Republicans in Illinois nominated him to run for the U.S. Senate. While he ultimately lost the race to Democrat Stephen Douglas, Lincoln earned a national reputation. Two years later, in 1860, the Republican Party nominated him as their candidate for president of the United States. Despite not receiving a single electoral vote from the slave states and winning just about forty percent of the popular vote, Lincoln enjoyed a relatively comfortable win in the Electoral College. Before Lincoln took the Oath of Office in early March 1861, seven southern slave states had already seceded from the Union. His decision to resupply Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor the following month led to its bombardment by South Carolina troops. While the federal installation surrendered, the incident galvanized northerners, who enthusiastically answered Lincoln’s subsequent call for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the southern rebellion. His call for volunteers, however, acted as a double-edged sword; four additional southern slave states seceded and joined the Confederacy. After the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved individuals living in the Confederacy free. While in reality it did not free any slaves given that the Confederacy did not recognize or obey U.S. federal law, the Emancipation Proclamation did allow for the enrollment of African American men in the U.S. armed forces. In addition, it dashed the Confederacy’s hopes of securing foreign recognition, since both Great Britain and France had abolished slavery decades earlier and thus could not support the creation of a slave-owners’ republic. In late 1864 and early 1865, Lincoln worked assiduously to secure the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery in the United States.  On the evening of April 14, 1865, less than a week after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln was shot by southern sympathizer John Wilkes Booth while attending a performance of the comedy Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He died early the next morning. He was fifty-six years old. Nearly two weeks later, federal troops tracked down and killed Boothe in Virginia. Four of his fellow co-conspirators were apprehended, tried, convicted, and executed that summer. Roughly half a century later, Cincinnati lawyer, media mogul, and older brother of former U.S. President William Howard Taft, Charles Phelps Taft commissioned sculptor George Grey Barnard to create a statue of Lincoln to be given as a gift to the city. The project took Barnard five years to complete, during which time he closely studied Lincoln’s life masks and casts of his hands. He even found a six-foot-four farmer from Kentucky to serve as a model. Dedicated on March 31, 1917 in Cincinnati’s Lytle Park, the larger-than-life-sized bronze statue depicts Lincoln standing with his hands crossed, staring into the distance. Approximately 20,000 people turned out to see the dedication ceremony, which featured a parade and a speech delivered by former U.S. President William Howard Taft. The sculpture’s heightened realism—Lincoln’s large hands and feet, the creases on his thin beardless face, the wrinkles in his clothes—drew intense criticism from people across the country, including the subject’s eldest and only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

This statue commemorates the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). As president from 1861 to 1865, he shepherded the nation through the Civil War, while also issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and helping to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution through Congress. On the evening of April 14, 1865, less than a week after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln was shot by southern sympathizer John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He died early the next morning. Roughly half a century later, Cincinnati lawyer, media mogul, and older brother of former U.S. President William Howard Taft, Charles Phelps Taft commissioned sculptor George Grey Barnard to create a statue of Lincoln to be given as a gift to the city. The project took Barnard five years to complete, during which time he closely studied Lincoln’s life masks and casts of his hands. He even found a six-foot-four farmer from Kentucky to serve as a model. Dedicated on March 31, 1917 in Cincinnati’s Lytle Park, the larger-than-life-sized bronze statue depicts Lincoln standing with his hands crossed, staring into the distance. Approximately 20,000 people turned out to see the dedication ceremony, which featured a parade and a speech delivered by former U.S. President William Howard Taft. The sculpture’s heightened realism—Lincoln’s large hands and feet, the creases on his thin beardless face, the wrinkles in his clothes—drew intense criticism from people across the country, including the subject’s eldest and only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln Statue

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Another notable resident of the house was Nicholas Longworth, a wealthy Cincinnati resident and patron of the arts. Longworth hired African American artist Robert S. Duncanson to paint murals in the foyer of the home. These murals are now considered to be some of the best from the pre-Civil War period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Duncanson’s artistic significance lives on through the Robert S. Duncanson Society, founded in 1986. The purpose of the organization is to ensure the museum maintains a strong African American presence and preserves the memory and historical significance of Robert S. Duncan himself. The organization also focuses on supporting the contemporary by providing a Duncanson Artist-in-Residence program. The 2-week program is designed for artists to become active in the Cincinnati Art Community, through school programs, workshops, etc.

Housed in the Baum-Longworth-Sinton-Taft House, the Taft Museum of Art hosts traveling exhibitions that tend to focus on American art and history. As a result, the Taft Museum complements the works and collections on display at the nearby Cincinnati Museum of Art. The building that houses the museum is itself a work of art and an important piece of American history. Built in 1820 for Martin Baum, it is the area’s oldest residential wooden building still in its original location. The museum’s co-founder, Anna Sinton Taft, lived in the mansion with her husband Charles Phelps Taft—half-brother of President William Howard Taft—from 1837 until their deaths in 1929 and 1931, respectively. In 1927, the Tafts passed their home and private art collection to the people of Cincinnati. The house opened as the Taft Museum in 1932.

Taft Museum of Art

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus is revered for his actions during the early years of the Roman Republic. He served as Dictator of Rome in 458 B.C.E.,&nbsp;leaving his farm to become the sole ruler of Rome to rescue a surrounded&nbsp;Roman army.&nbsp;Upon achieving victory and rescuing the army, Cincinnatus relinquished his power and returned to his farm. This act of sacrifice for the common good is what inspired the creation of the Society.&nbsp;

This monument depicts the famed ancient Roman figure, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, for whom the city of Cincinnati is named. The man responsible for giving the city its name was  Arthur St. Clair (1737-1818), the first governor of the Northwest Territory during the late 18th century. He did so in 1790, establishing Hamilton County and changing the name of the town inside it, then called Losantiville, to Cincinnati. He also designated Cincinnati as the county seat. St. Clair belonged to an organization called the Society of the Cincinnati, whose initial members were officers of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The Society, which is still in existence today, promotes the ideals of the of the war and the fellowship of its members. It is a hereditary organization but it also includes honorary members who support its goals. 

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus Monument

Pete Rose was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 14th, 1941. Throughout his youth him and his siblings were always heavily into sports. He always played baseball, but actually really wanted to play football professionally. Certain circumstances lead him towards a baseball career. He started in major league baseball in 1963 for his home team the Cincinnati Reds. In his debut season he was awarded with the national rookie of the year award which was just the start for this young player. Through the years of 1979-1984 Rose played for the Philadelphia Phillies for four seasons and the Montreal Expos for one season. While playing for the Phillies he had two world series shots, winning the 1980 world series and losing the 1983 world series. During his only season with the Expos he joined Ty Cobb in the 4000-hit club, cementing him as one of the best. After those five years he returned home to the Reds where he surpassed Ty Cobb with a hit record of 4,192 in 1986. After all those years of playing, the Reds decided to make him manager for the team. The year 1989 will forever be stapled to Rose’s name due to the fact that this is when his legacy started to fall apart. This was the year that he was banned from baseball for life due to betting on the Red’s games regularly. This meant that even though he was one of the greatest players of all time his legacy would never be recognized in the baseball Hall of Fame. He has tried two other times in 1992 and 2015 but was rejected both times. Many people think he should be allowed into the Hall of Fame and that other players in the past have done way worse.

On September 12, 1985 the decision to change Second Street to Pete Rose Way was made. This decision led to some controversy due to the fact that usually the person it was being named after was supposed to be deceased for a year or more. This decision also upset doctors who have been trying to get something in the city named after Dr. Albert B. Sabin. Dr. Sabin, also from Cincinnati, discovered the oral polio vaccine and he has been considered for a naming since 1982. Other than those infractions, people were glad that their local baseball hero was being honored in such a way. This naming took place just a day after Pete Rose hit his 4,192nd hit to beat the major league record. This street also runs by two important stadiums in Cincinnati which are the Great American Ball Park where Pet Rose played and by Paul Brown Stadium where the Cincinnati Bengals play.

Pete Rose Way

Chase practiced law in Cincinnati&nbsp;and defended runaway slaves who had entered into the city from Kentucky. During his tenure in the Senate, Chase warned of the growing threat of the "slave power," a euphemism&nbsp;for the disproportionate political and economic power of planters. He was also one of the most outspoken critics against the extension of slavery into the American West. Chase served as Governor of Ohio between 1856 and 1860. During the Civil War, he served in President Lincoln's cabinet as the Secretary of the Treasury and helped create the modern American banking system while also creating and marketing the bonds that helped the Union finance the war effort. For his contributions, the founders of the Chase National Bank (JP Morgan Chase today) named their bank in honor of the former Treasury Secretary. &nbsp;After the war, he served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson. He passed away in 1873 and his remains are interned at the Spring Grove Cemetery.&nbsp;

This marker honors the life and legacy of Salmon Portland Chase (1808-1873), who most notably served as the Secretary of the Treasury under Abraham Lincoln and was the 6th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1864-1873). He was born in New Hampshire in 1808. He attended Cincinnati College from 1822-1823 and eventually graduated from Dartmouth College (in New Hampshire) in 1826. He was admitted into the bar and set up a practice back in Cincinnati. He became known for his staunch abolitionist beliefs and defended runaway slaves and those who harbored them. Chase's political career began as a city councilman in 1840, and would become a Senator (1849-1855) and after that the first Republican governor (1856-1860) of Ohio. As Treasury Secretary, Chase established the nation's first national bank, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (now the IRS), and introduced the first paper currency. He vied for the nomination to be Republican candidate for president but lost to Lincoln. Chase also helped organize what was called the Free Soil Party, which advocated for abolition of slavery; it was gradually incorporated into the Republican Party. Chase died of a stroke in 1873

Historical Marker: Salmon Portland Chase

Riverfront Stadium was built to accommodate both baseball and football.&nbsp;The lower level box seats could be moved away on wheels, allowing the capacity for 59,754 to watch the Bengals before the creation of&nbsp;Paul Brown Stadium in the mid-1990s.&nbsp;The scoreboard was in centerfield. The stadium remained the same up until 1996 when&nbsp;the stadium's naming rights were sold to the Cinergy Corporation. Two years later, the team and city&nbsp;announced plans to create a new baseball&nbsp;stadium so close to the location of&nbsp;Cinergy Field that 14,000 outfield seats had to be removed and the bullpens had to be relocated&nbsp;before construction of the new stadium could begin.&nbsp;&nbsp; For the next two&nbsp;years, fans at Cinergy Field&nbsp;could look out over the center field wall and see the Ohio River and the new ballpark being constructed. The last game played at Cinergy Field was played on September 22, 2002, a 3-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. At the end of the 2002 season, the&nbsp;stadium was demolished on December 29, 2002. The following season, the Cincinnati Reds moved to&nbsp;their current confines at Great American Ball Park adjacent to the site of the former Cinergy Field.&nbsp;&nbsp; Riverfront Park/Cinergy Field was home to many great moments in sports. Among the most&nbsp;memorable moments was Pete Rose's record-breaking hit that surpassed the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;record&nbsp;of&nbsp;4192 hits set by&nbsp;Ty Cobb. Henry Aaron tied Babe Ruth's record at this stadium when he hit his&nbsp;714th homerun.

Completed in 1970, Riverfront Stadium served as the home of the Cincinnati Reds from 1970 until the opening of Great American Ball Park in 2002. With the proliferation of automobile use in conjunction with shifting demographics and a rising crime rate surrounding the site of the Reds former home Crosley Field, the Reds' ownership made the decision to design a new ballpark and close the existing stadium. Team owner Bill Dewitt entertained an offer to move the team to San Diego in the 1960s, a move that prompted local investors to make a bid for the team. The Reds were the first professional team in baseball history, so the effort to ensure that the Reds stayed in Cincinnati received public support. These investors made sure to utilize this support to help secure funding for the construction of a new stadium. Riverfront Stadium was built between 1968 and 1970 and opened with a seating capacity of 52,952 and a parking garage that held 2,500 cars. 

Riverfront Stadium (Cinergy Field) 1970-2002

<h1></h1>The Cincinnati
Reds were the second baseball team to form a Hall of Fame, only after the
Cleveland Indians Hall which started in 1951. Shortly after opening, it closed
making the Reds Hall of Fame the oldest team Hall of Fame in baseball history.
It is also the largest Hall of Fame with 71 members. The idea for
the Reds Hall of Fame was promoted by the Sports Committee of the Cincinnati
Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Reds and owner Powel Crosley. For
many years the Chamber of Commerce ran the election and hosted the induction
ceremonies at the ballpark. The first ballot included 25 names, and fans could
vote for up to five players. Nearly 200,000 votes were cast and of the 25
players who appeared on this ballot, 20 were eventually inducted into the Reds Hall
of Fame. 

Around 1969, the Reds franchise
reduced the number of inductees to one each year so the ballot shrunk to around
10 names, and fans were permitted to vote for just one player. In the early
1980s, the Reds took over the sponsorship of the Reds Hall of Fame from the
Chamber of Commerce and moved the induction ceremonies to the offseason. Voting
was cancelled in 1985, resumed in 1986, and cancelled again in 1989 and the
Reds Hall of Fame stood inactive for 10 years. In 1998 the Reds were asked to
resume the elections, and they agreed. Voting was again stopped in 1999 but
quickly resumed in 2000 and has remained ever since. The Cincinnati Reds Hall
of Fame opened again in 2004 and is a place where player’s plaques can be
displayed and players themselves were thrilled that their plaques finally found
a home. 
In 2008 the Hall of Fame celebrated
its 50th&nbsp; Anniversary with an
elaborate exhibit and an Induction Gala which added Barry Larkin, Cesar
Geronimo, Joey Jay, and August “Garry” Herrman to the Hall of Fame, bringing the
total number of inductees to 75. Each year more players are inducted into the
Hall of Fame and each year the spirit and history of Reds baseball&nbsp;comes alive
through these hallways. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Standard Admission<ul><li>Adult Pass $10</li><li>Senior Pass&nbsp; $8 (60 and older)</li><li>Student Pass$8</li><li>&nbsp;Active Military and Veterans $6 (with valid military ID) </li><li>Children 4 and Younger Free</li><li>The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is a 16,000 sq. ft. facility with exhibit galleries located on two floors. Please allow at least 45-60 minutes for your self-guided tour.</li></ul>

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum was first established in 1958 by the MLB franchise, The Cincinnati Reds. The Reds Hall of Fame is the largest team hall of fame in all of baseball and is a place where Reds baseball comes alive each day. It was started as a way to commemorate the players, management, and moments in Red's history. Plan your visit today and enjoy family fun for all ages, including ball park tours which are available during certain seasons.

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum

The freedom museum has both permanent and traveling exhibits giving its visitors a chance to uncover more and more history each time they visit. Currently, the museum displays these exhibits The Solomon Northup Tour; Celebrating the March on Washington; The Struggle Continues; From Slavery to Freedom; ESCAPE!; The Slave Pen; Brothers of the Borderland; Invisible: Slavery Today; Everyday Freedom Heroes; Suite for Freedom. &lt;br/ &gt;A statement from the website, "Our purpose is to tell the story of the struggle for freedom in the United States through exhibits and programs that focus on America's battle to rid itself of the ugly scourge of slavery and treat all its citizens with respect and dignity." The Solomon Northup Tour provides the historical context for the movie "12 Years a Slave."&nbsp; It depicts what Northup might have experienced as a&nbsp;slave and the role of abolitionists in the movies time set.&nbsp; Portrayed in the From Slavery to Freedom display three centuries of the history of slavery are depicted to express the fight from the start to the long-awaited end of slavery.&nbsp; In this hands-on and family-friendly exhibit, ESCAPE! visitors get a chance to role-play and feel just a glimpse of what slaves once endured.&nbsp;

The Slave Pen is a piece of local history for this particular part of the country.&nbsp; Taken from Mason County, Kentucky, just 60 miles from the museum this structure was built for holding slaves during trades and guests of the Freedom Center have the opportunity to step inside for a look into the past. &nbsp;Other exhibits provide the intense history of slavery through a variety of different ways; including short documentaries and hands-on displays.&nbsp;For those interested in a history of the Underground Railroad that emphasizes the agency of African Americans within their own history (instead of emphasizing the role of a handful of atypical but certainly intrepid&nbsp;white abolitionists) the three books linked to this page are for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opened in 2004, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center was created as a response to the 2001 race riots that shook the city of Cincinnati and showed the persistence of racism in American life. A museum funded largely by corporate donations and designed to promote racial reconciliation, the museum emphasizes (and perhaps over-emphasizes) the interracial cooperation of white and Black abolitionists that was both rare and crucial to the eventual end of slavery. Although the majority of abolitionists and "conductors" of the Underground Railroad were Black, the focus of many of the museum's displays focuses on the more familiar histories of white abolitionists. 

The Freedom Center is certainly one of the finest museums of African American history in the country, with outstanding displays about the creation of slavery and the efforts of white and Black Americans who took an unpopular stand against it. Visitors are simply encouraged to consider the displays within the historic context that led to the founding of the museum. 

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 

Between 1850 and 1926 where this office building now stands was once one of the world's finest hotels: The Burnet House. Several prominent figures of the 19th century stayed at the hotel including Abraham Lincoln (on two occasions, once in 1859 when he was campaigning for the Ohio Republican Party, and the other in 1861 when he was on his way to inauguration as President), Henry Clay, James Buchanan, and Horace Greeley, the founder of the New York Times. In 1862 after the Civil War battle at Shiloh, the hotel served as a hospital for wounded troops. The hotel is also notable for the meeting on March 20, 1864 between Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Tecumseh Sherman who discussed their military campaign strategies against the Confederacy in what would be the last year of the war. The hotel closed in July 1926 was demolished soon after. 

Historical Marker: The Burnet House

Carew Tower and Netherland Plaza Hotel were constructed to be a “city within a city" and offer a combination of retail and office spaces anchored by a destination luxury hotel. In August 1929, plans for the Netherland Plaza Hotel and Carew Tower were announced, and the project was completed in January 1931. Financing for the building came predominantly from the Emery Family who made their fortune in processing the byproducts of Cincinnati's stockyards. John Emery hired Walter Ahlschlager and Colonel William Starrett to begin construction on the hotel. Starett had previously designed the Lincoln Memorial and the Empire State Building, while Ahlschlager had been involved in the design of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and Hotel Intercontinental in Chicago. Emery financed the project by liquidating his entire portfolio which appeared foolish to many in the fall of 1929 but insulated him and the project from the stock market crash. While construction projects financed by banks were cancelled in the wake of the crash and failure of many leading banks, Emery was able to continue his project. As banks failed and the construction of nearby buildings stopped, plans for this hotel moved forward quickly as Emery became one of the city’s largest employers. Emery initially decided to name the hotel the St. Nicholas in reference to a previous luxury hotel that had been the center of Cincinnati social life, but the competing Cincinnati Realty Company filed an injection claiming that they had acquired the rights to that name when the old St. Nicholas Hotel closed. As a result, Emery selected a new name, St. Netherland Plaza, a reference to the location of the hotel in the space between the surrounding hills and the Ohio River. While Emery's liquidation of his portfolio insulated him from the stock market crash, the ongoing effects of the Great Depression reduced the number of traveling guests and locals who could afford the luxury hotel and its banquet facilities. Despite the downturn, the hotel's grand opening in January 1931 was a celebration of luxury and technology, including the hotel's automatic garage doors and high speed automatic elevators. While business was slower than projected owing to the Great Depression, the hotel became the center of social life with nightly jazz music filling the lobby. Like many leading hotels, the Netherland quickly rebounded as employment and wages increased as the nation's factories reached full employment owing to the production of armaments, first for the Western Allies under the Lend-Lease Act and then for the U.S. military. Disaster struck in 1942 when a fire and the resulting water damage from the effort to extinguish it destroyed much of the hotel's interior. The hotel was remodeled in the 1960s to try to match the modern appearance of many newer hotels. The hotel saw a decline in business in the 1970s and 1980s as business moved away from the center of downtown and travlers opted for hotel chains located near the interstate. However, given the centrality of the hotel to the city, investors dedicated funds to renovation, including an effort to restore many aspects of the hotel to match its original appearance. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and was operated by the Omni hotel management company until 2002 when it was acquired by Hilton.

The Netherland Plaza Hotel was built between 1929 and 1931 and quickly became the center of Cincinnati's social scene with its French Art Deco architecture and an interior filled with frescoes and murals. The hotel is also part of the Carew Tower Shopping Arcade and Office Tower complex which includes dozens of retail stores and restaurants in addition to office space. The Netherland Plaza became a National Landmark in 1985 and is also a member of Historic Hotels of America. 

The Netherland Plaza Hotel 

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;There was a man named Cornelius
Burnett, an English immigrant and open abolitionist, who on June 25th
of 1841 confronted a man from Kentucky and a constable who were trying to
retrieve a runaway slave who was taking refuge at Burnet’s confectionary store.
Burnet and his sons were involved in an altercation that led to the constable
and slave owner being injured, and the man and his sons were arrested and held
on a $3,000 bail. A white mob assembled to attack Burnett at this time, but the
sheriff was able to disperse them.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That was not the case when a mob reassembled on September
3rd, 1841 though; following a fight between Irish immigrants and
African Americans on September 2nd, a mob of 1,500 white men
descended onto the Black neighborhoods of Cincinnati, and their first target
was Burnet’s candy store. The Black men of the community were prepared to fight
back though; under the organization of a Major James Wilkerson, armed men were
able to defend themselves against the first attacks of the white mob. Upon
realizing that the Black men were successfully resisting their attacks, the
white men produced a cannon and began firing loads of iron scrap metal into the
home and businesses of African Americans. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Instead of siding with and protecting the African
Americans who were being attacked, the mayor of the city, Samuel Davies, sided
with the white rioters and placed the Black neighborhoods under martial law.
Under the guise of doing so for the protection of the community’s Black men, every
Black man in the area was disarmed, arrested, and put into police custody. This
left the rest of the Black community defenseless, and the white mob took the
opportunity to attack again, only this time they were attacking home and businesses
that were occupied solely by unarmed women and children. They also attacked an
abolitionist newspaper, the Philanthropist, by breaking up its printing press and
throwing it into the Ohio River. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Like the mayor, the other newspaper in the area, the
Enquirer, was of the opinion that the African American and abolitionist
communities brought the wrath upon themselves and that the attacks by the mobs
were fully justified. In particular, the Enquirer’s writers were outraged at
the possibility of abolitionists causing southern businesses to choose to
conduct their business elsewhere because of the abolitionist community, which
is evident in the following quote from the paper on September 9th,
1841:

“To ascertain their origin, reference
must be had to the period when abolition influence had so far prevailed, that a
citizen of the slave States could not come to Cincinnati to trade - to spend
the warm months, or pass the night in course of travelling, without having his
negro servants decoyed or stolen away - when slave labor could not safely be
employed on steam boats touching at our landings - and when Southrons finding
this to be the case, went elsewhere and threw the profits of their trade and
travel into the hands of other communities.”

           The beginning of September of 1841 in Cincinnati, Ohio brought race riots that lasted for days. An altercation that happened in a candy store eventually led to a mob of 1,500 white men descending on Cincinnati’s Black population of just over 2,000 citizens. The Black men of the community fought back though, and upon seeing their resistance, the white men began firing iron shrapnel from a cannon into the homes and business of Black citizens. Instead of arresting the white rioters, the police instead arrested every Black man in the city. After all of the Black men were in custody, the white mob attacked again, only this time they were attacking businesses and homes that were occupied only by unarmed women and children. The mob destroyed an abolitionist press, the Philanthropist, and threw it in the Ohio River. This time, with the help of militia, around 40 white men were arrested. 

The Cincinnati Race Riot of 1841

In his speech Kennedy called upon his audience to support several candidates for office from Ohio who he believed would support the Democratic platform in areas such as&nbsp;education and health care.&nbsp;

This historical marker indicates the location of the platform (right on the sidewalk) on which President John F. Kennedy gave a speech on October 5, 1962. In the speech he urges Ohioans to elect Democratic representatives to help further progressive goals in health care, housing, education, and employment. Kennedy did not speak long, for only about 9 and a half minutes. A link to a recording of the speech can be found below.

Historical Marker: Kennedy Speech

The courthouse is the second federally owned building on the site and the third federally owned building in the city. The previous courthouse was built in 1885 after a long eleven year construction period. It eventually became too small for the needs of the city and so the current one was built in its place.

Named after Cincinnati native and Supreme Court Justice, the Potter Stewart United States Courthouse was built in 1938 and is a fine example of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture. It houses the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The interior features include the two-story main lobby, the original elevator lobby with decorative aluminum elevator doors, and the original wood paneling in the courtroom. The rest of the space—440,000 square feet—is available for rent. Potter Stewart (1915-1985) was actually born in Michigan while his family was on vacation. He served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1958-1981. The building is situated next to Fountain Square, a small public park where several presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, had visited. The courthouse was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Potter Stewart United States Courthouse

The fountain is made of cannon bronze and features a green granite base. The fountain was cast in Europe and shipped to Cincinnati in separate sections. The fountain was made with about 24 short tons of bronze and 85 short tons of granite.

In the 1960s Fountain Square was redone and the fountain was moved so that it faced west. It had initially faced the east as a tribute to all the citizens who came from Europe.

The fountain has had renovations over the years. The first renovation marked the 100 year anniversary of the fountain. It was renovated and refurbished again in 1999. In 2005 the fountain was moved to the center of Fountain Square. The entire square was greatly improved with the addition of an ice skating rink and four different stages. It re-opened on October 14, 2006 with a lot of fanfare. There was a ceremony that included food, beer, fireworks, and music. Mr. Probasco travelled to Munich, Germany to find an artist to build his dream fountain. The artist was Ferdinand von Miller. The drinking fountains that were requested by Mr. Probasco were designed by the sons of von Miller. They were named Ferdinand and Fritz. The fountain has been documented in the National Register of Historic Places.Tyler Davidson Fountain-Genius of Water

5th Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

&nbsp;

The Genius of Water was a tribute to the importance of water in the development of the city of Cincinnati commissioned by Henry Probasco as a tribute to his brother-in-law and business partner Tyler Davidson. The men became wealthy from their Cincinnati based hardware stores and were grateful to the city of Cincinnati. &nbsp;The Ohio River played a significant part in developing the country and the commerce of the country. The fountain is a tribute to the Ohio River and the significance or importance of water. The fountain was dedicated in October of 1871 and features drinking fountains at the base. The fountain is inscribed with the words "To the People of Cincinnati" and is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world. The fountain is a symbol of Cincinnati and is nicknamed "The Lady". A miniature replica fountain is on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

The fountain is always on display in Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio but the water is turned off in the winter months. The water is turned on again on in warmer weather when the Cincinnati Reds take the field.

Fountain Construction

The fountain is made of cannon bronze and features a green granite base. The fountain was cast in Europe and shipped to Cincinnati in separate sections. The fountain was made with about 24 short tons of bronze and 85 short tons of granite.

In the 1960s Fountain Square was redone and the fountain was moved so that it faced west. It had initially faced the east as a tribute to all the citizens who came from Europe.

The fountain has had renovations over the years. The first renovation marked the 100 year anniversary of the fountain. It was renovated and refurbished again in 1999. In 2005 the fountain was moved to the center of Fountain Square. The entire square was greatly improved with the addition of an ice skating rink and four different stages. It re-opened on October 14, 2006 with a lot of fanfare. There was a ceremony that included food, beer, fireworks, and music.

Artist

Mr. Probasco travelled to Munich, Germany to find an artist to build his dream fountain. The artist was Ferdinand von Miller. The drinking fountains that were requested by Mr. Probasco were designed by the sons of von Miller. They were named Ferdinand and Fritz. The fountain has been documented in the National Register of Historic Places.

&nbsp;

Symbolism in the Fountain

The fountain has an overall theme of the importance of water and each of the sections has a different theme regarding water. The fountain's pedestal signifies the four main uses of water (in 1871). The uses were steam, water for power, water to navigate through, and fisheries.

The use of steam engine for a trip hammer used by ironworkers is depicted in one scene. Water for power is depicted with a watermill and peasants carrying corn to the mill. A steamship represents navigation and is depicted with a crowd of well-wishers waving to the ship as it departs the city. A group of fishermen and children symbolize the city's fisheries while dockworkers symobolize industry.

The central figure of the fountain is "The Lady". She is standing upon a giant shaft. The shaft is decorated at the top with intertwining vines and foliage. There are several figures around the base of the shaft each with a significant meaning. They are a workman, a farmer, a young girl and an old man, and a mother and child.The workman is begging for water to put out a fire on the roof. The farmer is imploring for rain due to drought. The young girl is giving the old man on crutches a drink of water. The mother is trying to make the young boy bathe. The lady is gently dropping water on the people.

The pleasures of water are represented with four outer figures. Each of these figures is working drinking fountains. Each drinking fountain has a nude boy with different animals. One is a boy on the back of a turtle. One boy is riding a dolphin. One boy is playing with ducks. One boy is playing with a snake.&nbsp;The fountain is a masterpiece and is quite beautiful, especially at night.&nbsp;

The Genius of Water was a tribute to the importance of water in the development of the city of Cincinnati commissioned by Henry Probasco as a tribute to his brother-in-law and business partner Tyler Davidson. The men became wealthy from their Cincinnati-based hardware stores and were grateful to the city of Cincinnati.  The Ohio River played a significant part in developing the country and the commerce of the country. The fountain is a tribute to the Ohio River and the significance or importance of water. The fountain was dedicated in October of 1871 and features drinking fountains at the base. The fountain is inscribed with the words "To the People of Cincinnati" and is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world. The fountain is a symbol of Cincinnati and is nicknamed "The Lady." A miniature replica fountain is on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum

Tyler Davidson Fountain-Genius of Water Fountain Square Cincinnati 

The Contemporary Arts Center was originally founded as the Modern Art Society way back in 1939 by three women named Betty P. Rauh, Peggy F. Crawford, and Rita R. Cushman. These three women raised enough donations in order to exhibit modern art at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The society’s first exhibit was named “Modern Painting from Cincinnati Collections” and it opened in December 1939. It was not until 1954 when the society decided to rename the art gallery from the Modern Art Society to the Contemporary Arts Center. The name change came at the same time the museum’s lower level was the host of two new art galleries.Many local pieces of arts were shown in this space which have been kept in the Cincinnati Art Museum included in the Mary E. Johnson collection. The construction of the Emery Wing replaced the original space of the Contemporary Arts Center at the Cincinnati Arts Museum. In 1962, the museum curators were looking to expand so the CAC moved out inhabiting severalplaces such as the Taft Museum of Art and the Carew Tower. It found a temporary home in the Women’s Exchange Building for six years. It then moved all the way to the Mercantile Center, which opened back in 1970.The CAC suffered from financial troubles in 1971, but push through when the ladies put in over 400 exhibitions during it’s 30-year stay at the building. A permanent lease for the building was acquired in 1982 through the use of a city bond. Talks of a new home began in the 80’s as the ladies looked at the Ohio Mechanics Institute and the Aronoff Center. In 1997, the decision was made to construct the center’s first independent and free-standing building of their own. Construction of this building started in 2001 and the place officially opened on May 31, 2003.

Officially called the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, the center opened in 2003. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the New York Times declared it to be the "the best new building since the Cold War.” It features 16,000 square feet of exhibition space, another exhibition, and educational space called the "UnMuseum.” It also offers musical concerts, theatrical performances, artist talks, workshops, and school programs.

Contemporary Arts Center

The Ohio Common
Schools Act that was passed in 1853 set aside provisions for funding a
public library. The public library would see several temporary homes before the
board found a more permanent one. A new spot was located on 629 Vine Street it
was a building that was originally designed to be an opera house but ran out of
funds before it could be completed. The Library Board purchased the Truman
Handy’s Opera House Project for $83,000. The inside had to be revamped and
altered but it opened a few years after the board purchased the property in
1874. The library itself was four floors and one of the biggest and most
elaborate in the country. The main hall looked more like a cathedral than a
library and it opened up to a huge atrium with a skylight that contained five
large alcoves of books. It was one of the most extravagant and ornate libraries
of its time. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The library was well-maintained
and staffed. The entire fourth floor was devoted to a school for training other
librarians.&nbsp;Other members of the staff included pages that
were in charge of getting the book requested. There was also a special library
police who patrolled the library at all times. the library's ornate and expansive reading rooms
included&nbsp;works of art&nbsp;among the&nbsp;large and spacious
reading desks&nbsp;and shelves of rare books and one-of-a-kind manuscripts. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The library's collection grew each year and by the 1920s, it was clear that&nbsp;more space was needed.&nbsp;In 1944, voters approved a bond measure that would create a new central library. By&nbsp;1955, all of&nbsp;the old library's&nbsp;1.25 million
volumes&nbsp;had been moved to&nbsp;the new&nbsp;Main Public Library located on the
corner of 8th and Vine Streets. In that same year, the historic&nbsp;library was
demolished, replaced by a parking garage. Beyond the collection of books and manuscripts, the only&nbsp;remnants of this historic ibrary are&nbsp;a collection of photos, paintings, and the
busts of Shakespeare, John Milton, and Benjamin Franklin that were in the
entrance of the library.&nbsp;

Prior to the construction of the city library at 8th and Vine, this was the location of the main public library. The Old Main Public Library served the community from 1874 to the early 1950s and the building was demolished in 1955. 

Downtown Cincinnati History

Historical Marker: George Washington Williams

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources