Cincinnati’s Transportation History

Enjoy the fascinating history of Cincinnati’s transportation modes in six talks followed by mini-tours in the Cincinnati History Museum on streetcars, riverboats, canals, inclines, Cincinnati’s Southern Railway and the Subway. Sessions will be held on six Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. at Cincinnati Museum Center.

Price: Single Session – $20 Members; $25 Non-Members. Receive a 20% discount when you purchase all six sessions! Please note, all sessions must be purchased at the same time to get the discount.

Registration deadline: April 4 and then 3 days before each session

BUY TICKETS

Available sessions:
Getting There – Cincinnati’s Transportation History

Monday, April 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Broad overview of the many modes of local and long-distance transportation used by Cincinnatians during the city’s first two centuries.

The lectures in the following weeks will provide more detailed information about individual transportation topics.

Rollin' on the River

Monday, April 14 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Travel on the Ohio River brought the first settlers to Cincinnati. Learn about early river hazards and the importance of the steamboat in fueling Cincinnati’s rapid growth both in commerce and manufacturing.

Cincinnati and the Miami & Erie Canal

Monday, April 21 from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Miami & Erie Canal offered a means for moving people and cargo between Cincinnati and Lake Erie and opened commerce to inland communities. Learn about the canal’s route, its construction and legacy.

Cincinnati Inclines

Monday, May 5 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Cincinnati’s Inclined Plane Railways solved the problem of transporting people and cargo up the hills surrounding the city basin and enabled the development of the first tier of city suburbs.

The Cincinnati Southern Railroad

Monday, May 12 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Learn about the country’s only municipally owned railroad: why was it built? where did it go? what were the construction challenges? who operated it?

Cincinnati's Subway

Monday, May 19 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Learn the story of why the City’s Rapid Transit, more commonly referred to as The Subway, was originally planned, partially constructed, but never completed.

Cancellation Policy: If you find it necessary to cancel, please call (513) 287-7001 prior to the registration deadline of your tour in order to receive a refund, less a $10 per person cancellation fee.