In May of 1886, the Cincinnati Art Museum opened to the public and was heralded as the Art Palace of the West. This Ohio museum has since amassed over 67,000 pieces that celebrate over 6,000 years of culture around the world. The first major expansion of the Cincinnati Art Museum was in 1907. Three more subsequent wings were added into the 1930’s and the halls where American, European, and Asian works are exhibited.
The 1940-1965 era was another time of expansion for the Museum and lecture halls, the auditorium, and another wing for the remaining pieces of the permanent collection were added on to the museum and divided the great hall into two separate floors. A thirteen-million-dollar renovation was undergone in 1993 and the architecture was restored to its original grandeur, and climate controls were upgraded.
The Cincinnati Wing was added in 2003 and showcased artifacts that were relevant to the history of the city. The museum had acquired over 60,000 items by this time as well and became the largest collection of art in the state of Ohio. Today, the museum and the Mary R. Schiff Library contain over 100,000 art works. The latest renovations were done in 2013 in the Art Academy Building.
The Cincinnati Art Museum volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours of time to create the online database of the comprehensive collection at the museum. All 67,000 items can be viewed online through the museum’s website.
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202, Phone: 512-721-2787