Art Deco Architecture of Cincinnati

J. Miles Wolf and the Cincinnati Preservation Association presents a photographic project supported by FotoFocus  featuring photography, informative text and historic images from the Cincinnati History Library and Archives of the Cincinnati Museum Center.


Just completed: 

Art Deco Architecture of Cincinnati exhibit at the Annex Galley

July 13-August 27, 2022

Cincinnati Preservation Association

For more than 50 years, Cincinnati Preservation has been working to save the places that make Cincinnati special. We see preservation as part of a larger mission, to promote vibrant, walkable, sustainable neighborhoods and strengthen the local economy. www.cincinnatipreservation.org

Cincinnati History Library & Archives
Since 1831 the Cincinnati History Library and Archives has been collecting and preserving materials related to the Greater Cincinnati area, the state of Ohio and the Old Northwest Territory. Today, it houses one of the most significant regional history collections in the United States with thousands of books, pamphlets, maps, manuscripts, photographs and films
J. Miles Wolf Photography

Photographer, artist and publisher, Wolf’s photographs are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the Cincinnati Art Museum. He has published 10 books of regional photographs. To see more of his Cincinnati photographs visit the website. To see more architectural photography, visit JMilesWolf.com.

Featured Buildings

The Times-Star Building was built in 1933 as a newspaper printing and production house. Taft was president and publisher and he hired Samuel Hannaford and Sons to design a modern building that represented the entire history of printing and publishing. His design showcases imprortaint figures from the history of printing from Egyptian hieroglyphics to early printing presses

  • Built in 1933  
  • Built by Charles P. Taft (1843-1929) Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-chief of the Times-Star  
  • Architect was Samuel Hannaford and Sons  
  • Rich in Art Deco art  
  • History of printing depicted in the Art Deco figures 
  • Located in downtown Cincinnati at 800 Broadway 
Designed by Harry Hake, this 1931 building featured decorative architectural elements in an Art Deco style that show themes related to communications and industrialization. The building is in downtown Cincinnati at 209 W. Seventh Street and is not open to the public. It is currently home to Cincinnati Bell offices.

The Cincinnati & Suburban Bell Telephone Company headquarters was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 20th, 1995. 



  • National Register of Historic Places
  • Communications theme art showing telephones, headsets, operators, etc. 
  • Stone bas-reliefs representing the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
  • Interior not open to the public 
  • When built, it housed the world’s longest straight switchboard with 88 operator positions. 
  • opened in 1931 and still occupied by Cincinnati Bell. 

 

Cincinnati Union Terminal is recognized as a world class example of Art Deco architecture. Its massive rotunda and towering curved facade has fascinated travelers and now museum visitors since the building opened in 1933. It is now home to the Cincinnati Museum Center.


  • National Historic Landmark
  • Home to Cincinnati Museum Center, Omnimax Theater and Holocaust Museum. 
  • National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The nation's highest honor for museums and libraries
  • Designed by Fellheimer & Wagner with Paul Philippe Cret 
  • Named one of the Top 50 architecturally significant buildings in America by the American Institute of Architects. 
  • Opened in 1933 after 4 years of construction.


Carew Tower was a novel idea when John J. Emery first introduced it in the summer of 1929. He called for his structure to offer a wealth of services ranging from upscale restaurants to boutique storefronts. To finance his dream, Emery partnered with William A. Starrett of the Starrett Investment Company. Starrett was a renowned builder of skyscrapers, with his most notable work the Empire State Building. Starrett provided Emery with the main source of labor through his construction company, Starrett Brothers, Inc. They, in turn, hired the architectural firm W.W. Ahlschlager & Associates to create the building’s beautiful new design. But Emery also asked that another design company—Delano & Aldrich—assist W.W. Ahlschlager & Associates in the creation of Carew Tower. Together, they developed an engineering masterpiece that displayed some of the finest Art Deco architecture in the entire country. 


  • Built in 1930  
  • Built by John J. Emery and William Starrett
  • Architect was W.W. Ahlschlager along with Delano & Aldrich
  • National Historic Register and National Landmark status from the U.S. Department of the Interior. 
  • Was tallest building at 49 stories and 574 feet in the west of the Alleghenies when completed.
  • Located in downtown Cincinnati at 35 West Fifth Street


A downtown Cincinnati icon since 1931, the Netherland Plaza's authentic French Art Deco character is today recognized as a National Historic Landmark.  The hotel's Hall of Mirrors banquet room was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Art deco themes can be found throughout the building, in floral pattern plaster, marble and paintings. Highly detailed metalwork in brass, nickel and bronze are in light fixtures, air vents and elevator doors. Locally sourced inlaid Rookwood Pottery floral tiles adorn the east and west entrances of the building from the arcade. Sculpture on the exterior and interior of the building were executed by New York City architectural sculptor Rene Paul Chambellan.


  • Built in 1931 as part of the Carew Tower complex 
  • Built by John J. Emery and William Starrett
  • Architect was W.W, Ahlschlager along with Delano & Aldrich
  • National Historic Register and National Landmark status from the U.S. Department of the Interior. 
  • Historic Hotels of America 
  • Located in downtown Cincinnati at 41 West Fifth Street


Art Deco Architecture of Cincinnati


Virtual Gallery

Please visit our virtual gallety on the ArtSteps platform.  This exhibit was going to be at the Cincinnati Museum Center before being canceled due to COVID-19.

It works best on a computer. For phones or pads, you need to download the free ArtSteps app. Thank you for visiting.

visit the gallery
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