Cincinnati Heritage Programs is proud to present its 2012 schedule of historical, cultural, and architectural tours! Click here to open our 2012 brochure! To register for a tour, please call (513) 287-7031.For more then 25 years, our volunteer docents have enjoyed sharing their passion for history through hundreds of audio-visual presentations, lectures, motorcoach and walking tours. As an outreach association of the Cincinnati History Museum, the all-volunteer Cincinnati Heritage Programs has unlocked doors to privately owned places generally not open to the public. All topics are thoroughly researched for accuracy. The Cincinnati History Ambassadors strive to inspire people to learn and appreciate the region’s history.

Each month, Heritage Programs offers scheduled tours of unique sites of local or regional interest. All tours include lunch unless specified. All bus tours depart from the front of Cincinnati Museum Center. There are no refunds after the registration deadline. To register for a tour, call (513) 287-7031. Please note that payment must be received at the time of booking. For more information about the Heritage Program Tours, send an email to: heritageprograms@cincymuseum.org.

Heritage Programs is committed to providing access for all individuals attending our programs, activities and events. Those needing information about alternative formats or other assistance should make that request at the time the reservation is made.

Executive Charter is the official carrier for Cincinnati Heritage Programs public tours.                                                   

Union Terminal Rotunda Tours

Discover one of Cincinnati’s National Historic Landmarks, Union Terminal. During a 45-minute tour, docents explain the construction, architecture and art of one the finest examples of the Art Deco style. Hear details about the world-famous mosaic murals and visit the Cincinnati Union Terminal President’s Office, today’s Amtrak waiting room and Rookwood Tea Room. Complimentary tours are held Saturdays at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Tours can also be arranged for groups during the week with advance notice.

Cincinnati Heritage Programs is proud to present its 2012 schedule of historical, cultural, and architectural tours! Click here to open our 2012 brochure! To register for a tour, please call (513) 287-7031.

Tours include lunch unless specified. Bus tours depart from the front of Cincinnati Museum Center. There are no refunds after the registration deadline. All tours are subject to change.

The Treasures of the Queen City - Saturday, April 14, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Museum Center’s Geier Collections and Research Center is the repository of our city’s historic objects and fine art. Visit a treasure trove of Cincinnati memorabilia with David Conzett, curator of history collections. View historical items such as a 1951 Powell Crosley car, a baby shoe of the first white settler born in this region and the personal artifacts of Civil War General William H. Lytle. This is a rare opportunity to view the collections, not normally open to the public. This tour has some steps and standing. No purses or personal items allowed. A snack will be served. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $30 Members; $40 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: April 10

Over-the-Rhine Historic Breweries - Friday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. SOLD OUT

At the turn of the 20th century, Cincinnati was the beer brewing capital of the U.S. Explore several of the former late 19th and early 20th century German breweries that were located in Over-the-Rhine. Visit Christian Moerlein’s icehouse, office building and home of the son of Christian Moerlein. Explore the architecture, tunnels, archways and deep cellars of old brewery buildings. Have lunch in the oldest saloon in Cincinnati. There is considerable walking and standing throughout the day. Some areas are dark with steps and uneven walking surfaces. Sturdy shoes and handheld flashlights are required. Release forms must be signed on the morning of the tour. Buildings are not handicap accessible.

Fee: $75 Members; $85 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: April 10

Behind-The-Scenes at CVG - Thursday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. SOLD OUT

Learn about the day to day operations of the Tri-state’s largest airport. Find out why the airport is not in Ohio. Hear how it handles weather conditions and the environment. Learn about the ever-important issues of public safety, police and fire operations. This tour meets at the airport. Parking will be validated. Directions and parking instructions will be sent upon registration. Must be 18 and older. Must be able to walk and climb stairs. Security requires current government issued picture ID with birth date and social security number.

Fee: $50 Members; $60 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: March 9

Downriver to Historic Vevay, Indiana - Thursday, May 3, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Travel along the Ohio River to Switzerland County and visit the 1874 Italianate Schenk Mansion whose 35 rooms are filled with ornate fixtures reflecting the economic impact of 19th century river trade. Explore the Switzerland County Historical Museum located in the 1860 Presbyterian Church. At the Life on the Ohio River Museum, see models of river craft, a six-seat out house and the Switzerland Baptist Church. Meet the Markland Dam lockmaster and learn the importance of dams on the Ohio River. Wear sturdy shoes as there is considerable walking on uneven surfaces. Not all sites are handicap accessible.

Fee: $75 Members; $85 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: April 25

Subway Talk and Walk - Saturday, May 12, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m. SOLD OUT

Hear the fascinating history of Cincinnati’s Rapid Transit Subway tunnel, intact since 1928. Enter the subway for a five-block walk underground. The “talk and walk” lasts approximately two hours. Be aware that the tunnel is dark and dusty. Walking surfaces are uneven and may be muddy with standing water. Sturdy shoes or boots and a flashlight are required. Release forms and notification of the meeting site will be mailed upon registration. No cameras or headlamps permitted for safety reasons. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $50 Members; $60 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: April 13

The Crosleys and the American Dream - Thursday, May 17, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The inventive genius of Powel Crosley and his engineer brother, Lewis, afforded the masses the radio, the Shelvador refrigerator and the Crosley Car among their numerous inventions. Visit Pinecroft, the Crosley mansion located in Mt. Airy. At the Voice of America Museum in Mason, containing the Gray Wireless Museum, hear the history of what led to WLW becoming the Nation’s Station with the most powerful output in the world. This tour has a lot of walking, steps and standing throughout the day and is not handicap accessible.

Fee: $75 Members; $85 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: May 10

The Civil War in Northern Kentucky - Tuesday, June 5, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Explore Battery Hooper in Ft. Wright, one of 28 batteries and forts built on hilltops in Covington and Newport. Visit the James A. Ramage Civil War Museum, which tells the story of the largely civilian forces and the Black Brigade that rallied to defend the Union stronghold. See the graves of civil war veterans at Highland Cemetery. Visit Immanuel United Methodist Church, where General U.S. Grant worshiped when visiting his father. See the artifact-filled home of Daniel Carter Beard where General Lew Wallace was a guest. This tour has a considerable amount of walking and standing on uneven ground. All sites are not handicap accessible.

Fee: $70 Members; $80 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: May 29

Historic Railroad Stations - Thursday, June 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cincinnati was a busy crossroad for many commercial and passenger railroads. Visit several of the remaining neighborhood train depots that are currently used as museums, restaurants or shops. Hear stories about train travel for the long haul or an afternoon sojourn. All Aboard!

Fee: $65 Members; $75 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: June 7

Twilight Picnic in the Parks - Wednesday, June 20, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Spend the first evening of summer winding through several of Cincinnati’s most beautiful scenic overlooks, neighborhood and riverside parks. A course of dinner, from soup to dessert, will unfold at each view-filled park. Along the way, a City of Cincinnati Parks representative will present the history, land­scape and architectural features of each site.

Fee: $70 Members; $80 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: July 13

Union Terminal in the 1940s - Wednesday, July 18, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Experience Union Terminal during the 1940s when the Rotunda was filled with service men and women departing for assignments during World War II. Visit the USO and other amenities that the Terminal offered to soldiers. Learn about the era when swing was king with a presentation in the Newsreel Theater. Discover what was happening on the home front with an interpreted tour of the World War II exhibit. Meet the secretary for the President of Cincinnati Union Terminal as she takes you on a tour of the Art Deco offices. In the original dining room, enjoy lunch reproduced from an authentic Union Terminal menu. To enhance your experience, you are welcome to dress in 1940s-style clothing.

Fee: $40 Members; $50 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: July 10

Rescue, Reclamation and Research of the Great Miami and Whitewater River Valleys - Wednesday, July 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit the University of Cincinnati Field Station in Miami White­water Forest where four disciplines of scientific study con­vene for research opportunities. Visit the Shaker Trace Seed Nursery which harvests and stores over 150 species of seeds. Explore the Fernald Preserve Visitor’s Center and learn the history of the 1,050-acre site. Enjoy a stroll on the wetlands trails. At the Oxbow Preserve, explore the floodplain at the confluence of the Great Miami and Ohio Rivers where 286 species of birds and 472 species of vascular plants have been documented. This tour involves walking on maintained trails.

Fee: $65 Members; $75 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: July 18

Union Terminal Photo Shoot - Sunday, August 26, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Attention photography enthusiasts! This is your opportunity to take pictures of Union Terminal after visiting hours. Capture photographs of areas not routinely open to the public such as the restored President’s Office, The Cincinnati & Losantiville Dining Room and the original Men’s Lounge, now the Amtrak Waiting Room. Visit Tower A, once the main control tower for Cincinnati Union Terminal, where the Train Director managed all incoming and outgoing trains. Also, the balcony will be available for shooting the Grand Rotunda. Attending a free weekend Union Terminal Rotunda Tour will enhance the experience of this event.

Fee: $25 Member; $35 Non-Member
Registration Deadline: August 22

Up and Away to Mt. Auburn - Thursday, September 20, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Explore Cincinnati’s first hilltop suburb where wealthy 19th century citizens lived above the city’s crowded basin. Tour the birthplace of President William Howard Taft. Learn about the neighborhood residents including an Ohio governor and the industrialist and hymn writer, William H. Doane. See a presentation about Doane’s instrument collection spanning four centuries, located at the Art Museum. See Tiffany windows in the Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church. Hear how the incline made the neighborhood accessible for the middle class. Tour the campus and see a compelling presentation about the history of interdenominational God’s Bible School and College.

Fee: $50 Member; $60 Non-Member
Registration Deadline: September 12

Hauntings of Greater Cincinnati - Friday, September 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enter the world of the supernatural with visits to some of the area’s famous ghostly haunts. At Bobby Mackey’s nightclub, hear the tragic tale of the ghosts of headless Pearl Bryant and her lover, a man sporting a rope around his neck. Explore historic sites on both sides of the Ohio River to hear of past and present apparitions. Visit two houses in Covington where long-dead inhabitants continue to enjoy their surroundings. Along the day’s route, haunted sites with unusual happenings will be identified. There will be walking and standing on uneven surfaces for long periods of time. Sturdy shoes are recommended and only closed-toe shoes permitted. All sites are not handicap accessible. Dress for the weather.

Fee: $75 Member; $85 Non-Member
Registration Deadline: September 21

In Search of National Treasure - Wednesday, October 3, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Search no further than the city of Hamilton to view the prototype vault, built by the Mosler Safe Company, which guards the U.S. Constitution in the National Archives in Washington D.C. Visit the Old Court House and the Sailors and Soldiers Monument containing Ft. Hamilton artifacts and see the stained glass windows honoring women’s role during the Civil War. Visit the 1863 octagonal shaped Lane-Hooven House and the Victorian-era BenningHofen House. At Heritage Hall explore the museum of Robert McCloskey, the Butler County-born, award-winning author and illustrator of Make Way for Ducklings.

Fee: $70 Members; $80 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: September 26

St. Bernard Celebrates 100 Years - Tuesday, October 9, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Village of St. Bernard’s rich history includes the Bloody Run Massacre and events that led to the 1884 Cincinnati Courthouse Riots. Tour the early Henry Nurre homestead hosted by first-person interpreters. See sites of the Miami and Erie Canal. Visit the Procter & Gamble Fabric Home Care Innovation Center. Take a hard-hat tour of the Rumpke Recycling Center to learn the most advanced processes for sorting trash. This tour involves outside walking and steps. Must wear closed-toe shoes.

Fee: $55 Members; $65 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: October 1

Cincinnati Artists of the Golden Age - Thursday, October 18, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In the last half of the 19th century, artists such as Henry Sharp, Edward Potthast, Dixie Seldon, Robert Duncanson and Henry Twatchman flourished in Cincinnati. At the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, see the murals of Frank Duveneck, dean of the Cincinnati Art Academy. Visit with Curator Julie Aronson at the Cincinnati Art Museum to hear about the styles and lives of artists that made the Queen City a center for the arts. Visit a private club downtown to view the works of some of the celebrated painters. At Cincinnati Museum Center, see part of the CPS collection from the early 20th century.

Fee: $70 Members; $80 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: October 11

Inclines and Overlooks - Saturday, October 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During the late 1800s, Cincinnati boasted five inclines that carried people and freight away from the smoke, noise and crowds of the city basin up to fresh air. Visit the sites of the inclined planes. Hear about the hilltop resorts built as beer gardens and entertainment venues. Hear the story of Cincinnati’s “seven hills” and the wonders of 19th century transportation engineering. Lunch is not included.

Fee: $40 Members; $50 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: October 15

High Steel of Union Terminal - Saturday, November 3, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Explore the arched steel structure of the city’s most recognized landmark. After an audiovisual presentation on its construction, climb to the High Steel trusses supporting one of the largest half-dome rotundas in the world. Tour lasts about two hours, as­cends 300 steps and has ladders in dimly lit areas. No cameras or personal carried items are permitted on this tour. No photos are permitted. Sturdy shoes required. No open-toe or high heel shoes permitted. Must be at least 12 years of age and under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Not handicap accessible.

Fee: $25 Members; $35 Non-Members
Registration Deadline: November 1