Plan My Visit

Cincinnati Museum Center is open Thursday – Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cincinnati Museum Center will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

From the North

I-75 S to Western Avenue, Exit 2A.
OR
I-71 S to I-75 N to Liberty Street/Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G.

From the South

I-75 N to US 50 W (River Road/Linn Street), Exit 1D to Gest Street exit (first on left). Turn right on Gest, right at Freeman at first light, and follow the overhead signs for Ezzard Charles Drive.

From the East

US 50 W to I-75 N to Liberty Street/Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G.

From the West

I-74 E to I-75 S to Western Avenue, Exit 2A.
OR
US 50 E (River Road) to Freeman Avenue to Ezzard Charles Drive.

From I-471

I-471 N over DCB Bridge, take US 50 W/I-71 & I-75 exit to I-75 N to Liberty Street/Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G.

Parking

Cincinnati Museum Center parking is $6 per vehicle and free for Members and guests using the Museums for All discount. Guests should take a ticket from the gate to enter. Guests can pay at the box office, through the QR code on the ticket or at the pay-on-foot parking machine next to the Public Safety office. Guests may pay at the exit with credit card, but we recommend paying before returning to your vehicle.

Members should take a parking ticket and bring it inside for free validation from a staff member.

Parking is free if the vehicle is in and out in less than 15 minutes.

For guests with officially registered disability decals, 20 parking spaces are designated and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For special assistance getting into the building, call Public Safety at (513) 287-7048 at least 24 hours in advance. An officer will arrange assistance for you.

Bike racks

Bike racks are available at the north and south ends of the driveway, near the parking lots.

Arriving by private bus or van

Bus and van drivers may drop you off at the entrance. Buses arriving with school groups should park near the rear of the South Lot.

Arriving by The Cincinnati Metro

The Cincinnati Metro Route 49 bus connects downtown to Cincinnati Museum Center. There is a stop near the Museum Center entrance. Download the schedule here.

Museum Maps

We offer sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizzas, Greater’s Ice Cream and a Coffee Emporium coffee cart, which offers coffee, tea and snacks. Though our vendors keep different hours, food will always be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food service locations take card payment only.

Concourse Level

Nourish 513
Speciality sandwiches, burgers and salads. Open Thursday – Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
View online menu

Cup and Pint
Coffee, pretzels and ice cold treats.

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor
Featuring Graeter’s Ice Cream

Lower Level

Coffee cart
Open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Featuring Coffee Emporium coffee and snacks.

Bean Sprouts
Open Thursday – Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bean Sprouts is a nationally-recognized café concept where kids and families participate in a playful eating experience. Its award-winning children’s menu empowers kids to make their own healthy choices. Grown-ups will be delighted with equally tempting adult choices and an organic espresso bar.

Located just outside The Children’s Museum, Bean Sprouts is perfect for refueling after a morning of learning through play.

Bean Sprouts offers a variety of choices for families with picky eaters, allergies and other dietary challenges and adheres to strict ingredient guidelines. The café features sustainable foods, compostable packaging and eco-friendly design.

Guests are permitted to bring their own food and drinks into the building for consumption in seated dining areas. For the safety and preservation of our exhibits and artifacts, food and drink are not permitted to in museums, exhibits or The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX^® Theater.

Our main gift shop is located on the north side of the Grand Rotunda.

You can also shop our online gift shop by clicking here.

First Aid Services

Basic first aid supplies (band-aids, ice packs, etc.) are available in the Public Safety Office. For emergencies, contact the nearest staff member, who will contact Public Safety. AED defibrillators are located throughout the Museum Center.

Lockers

Lockers are available for use on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Lower Level lobby and towards the back of the Rotunda. Lockers cost $1 per day and can be purchased with a credit card.

Lost and Found

Items turned in to lost and found can be claimed in the Public Safety Office during business hours. Items can be mailed to the owner for a small fee.

Nursing Rooms

We are nursing-friendly. Parents are encouraged to nurse or bottle-feed their babies wherever and whenever they are most comfortable. Nursing rooms can be found next to the Mezzanine B restrooms and the Lower level restrooms for those wishing for more privacy. Nursing parents can also find quiet spaces in the Public Safety Office off the of Rotunda and in the Parent Resource Room in the Little Sprouts Farm exhibit of The Children’s Museum.

Restrooms

Facilities are located towards the back of the Rotunda, on the Mezzanine B level and near the entrance to the Westheimer Gallery. Restrooms are also located in all three museums and outside of the Cincinnati History Library & Archives.

Changing tables are available in both men’s and women’s restrooms. There are adult changing tables located in the Universal Restrooms on the Mezzanine B level and on the Lower level, near the entrance to the Westheimer Gallery.

It is the procedure of Cincinnati Museum Center that both staff and visitors may use the restroom that corresponds to the gender they identify with. There are also universal restrooms located throughout our facility.

Stroller & Mobility Rentals

Strollers are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office. Single strollers are $7 and double strollers are $9. Renters must be over 18 years old and sign the Guest Mobility Equipment Rental Agreement. A driver’s license or credit card will be held at the box office until the stroller is returned.

Wheelchairs and ECVs are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office. Wheelchairs are $5. ECVs are $25. Renters must be over 18 years old and sign the Guest Mobility Equipment Rental Agreement. A driver’s license or credit card will be held at the box office until the wheelchair or ECV is returned.

Tickets

To save time and make your visit as seamless as possible, we encourage guests to purchase tickets in advance online.

If you would like to purchase tickets over the phone or need assistance with your online purchase, please call Guest Services at (513) 287-7001. Our phones are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guests can purchase tickets and Memberships in-person at the box office during our normal operating hours from Thursday – Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vending Machines

Vending machines are available in the concourse near the OMNIMAX^® Theater in the alcove outside the Reakirt Auditorium. Drinks and snacks can also be purchased in our retail spaces and from the coffee kiosk on the lower level.

Water Fountains

Water fountains are near the restroom facilities throughout the building. Water fountains are wheelchair accessible.

Accessibility

Cincinnati Museum Center seeks to inspire people of all ages to learn more about the world with engaging and meaningful educational experiences covering science and regional history. We are intent on breaking down all barriers to this service. It is CMC’s policy to provide the best customer service and reasonable accommodation for our guests with disabilities. To this end, we seek to meet all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Accessibility Amenities

For more information about accessibility amenities, please visit our accessibility page.

Accessible Parking

For guests with officially registered disability decals, 20 parking spaces are designated and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For special assistance getting into the building, call Public Safety at (513) 287-7048 at least 24 hours in advance. An officer will arrange assistance for you.

Automatic Front Doors

Our historic front doors are heavy. Doors to the far left and far right have push-plates mounted on the wall for automatic opening. Some interior doors of the same type also have push-plate controls.

Elevators

The Express Elevator, to the right of the main entrance as you come in the front doors, serves the Lower level (The Children’s Museum, restrooms, grab-and-go food service, Bean Sprouts and the Westheimer Gallery.)

The East Elevator, to the left of the main entrance as you come in the front doors, serves the Mezzanine A level (Ruthven Gallery, Mallory Gallery, classrooms), the Mezzanine B level (Fountain Gallery, classrooms, restrooms) and the Lower level.

There is an elevator located just before the restrooms on the south side of the Rotunda that takes guests down to the Mezzanine level to access The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Cetner and the Cincinnati History Library & Archives.

There is also an elevator just past The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX^® Theater entrance. This elevator takes guests to 2nd floor north to enter/exit the OMNIMAX^® Theater if they cannot use the stairs.

The elevator in the Cincinnati History Museum can be accessed on the Concourse, Mezzanine and Lower Level.

The elevator in the Museum of Natural History & Science can be accessed on the Mezzanine and Lower Level.

Service Animals

Trained service animals required to perform tasks for or assist with a person with a disability are permitted in Cincinnati Museum Center. Service animals should remain on a leash or in a harness and under the control of the owner at all times. In compliance with the ADA, we only allow Service Dogs and Miniature Horses.

For more information, please view the ADA's Service Animal Requirements and the ADA's Service Animal FAQ.

Learn more about our accessibility options. For any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions around our ongoing commitment to accessibility please email us at accessibility@dos5.net.

Wheelchair & Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV) Rental

Wheelchairs and ECVs are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office. Wheelchairs are $5. ECVs are $25. Renters must be over 18 years old and sign the Guest Mobility Equipment Rental Agreement. A driver’s license or credit card will be held at the box office until the wheelchair or ECV is returned.

Museums for All

Guests with valid food assistance card and photo ID or a valid Medicaid and photo ID will receive free parking (up to 2 vehicles) and $3/person museum general admission for up to ten guests. At this time, Cincinnati Museum Center will only be accepting food assistance cards or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to qualify for the Museums for All offer. Valid cards from all 50 U.S. states will be accepted. Learn more about Museums for All.

ASTC Reciprocity 90 Mile Rule

ASTC reciprocal admission benefits do not apply to reciprocal members whose place of residence is less than 90 miles* from CMC.

ASTC reciprocal admission benefits also do not apply to members of science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of Cincinnati Museum Center.

*Per ASTC policy, this distance is measured “as the crow flies”, meaning that it is based on the linear radius between your place of residency and CMC, not driving distance.

Backpack Policy

When visiting the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, please minimize what you bring with you during your visit. Backpacks will be inspected prior to being admitted to the museum.

Code of Conduct

Cincinnati Museum Center’s Code of Conduct can be found here.

Food & Beverages

Guests are permitted to bring their own food and drinks into the building for consumption in seated dining areas. For the safety and preservation of our exhibits and artifacts, food and drink are not permitted to in museums, exhibits or The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX^® Theater.

Groups

Pre-registered group rates require a minimum of 15 paid guests with a reservation made at least two weeks in advance of the visit date. No other discounts, memberships, or reciprocal benefits can be utilized with a group reservation. If you have questions about group availability, please contact us at (513) 287-7021.

Service Animals

Trained service animals required to perform tasks for or assist with a person with a disability are permitted in Cincinnati Museum Center. Service animals should remain on a leash or in a harness and under the control of the owner at all times. In compliance with the ADA, we only allow Service Dogs and Miniature Horses.

For more information, please view the ADA's Service Animal Requirements and the ADA's Service Animal FAQ.

Learn more about our accessibility options. For any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions around our ongoing commitment to accessibility please email us at accessibility@dos5.net.

Stollers & Wagons

Guests are permitted to bring strollers and wagons during their visit to Cincinnati Museum Center. Please only park strollers and wagons in marked areas and do not block doors or walking paths.

Please note that large strollers that are wider than 32 inches may not fit through the historic doors.

Unaccompanied Minors

Children who are 12 years old or younger must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or a caregiver who is at least 18 years old.

If the parent of the child is younger than 18 years old, they can accompany the child without an adult.

Children must be at least 13 years old to visit the museum by themselves.

Weapons Policy

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is both an educational facility and an active railway station. In accordance with state guidelines, Homeland Security regulations, and federal law, firearms and deadly weapons of any kind are prohibited within this facility.