Is this is the largest "Half Dome" in the Western Hemisphere? Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio

www.HistoryInYourOwnBackyard.com
[e-mail]
812-623-5727
Built between 1929 and 1933 at a cost of 41 million dollars, Union Terminal is the most iconic building in the state of Ohio. Once a bustling hub for train traffic during WWII the building now see's only one Amtrak stop a day. Today it has been repurposed as the Cincinnati Museum Center and is one of the most widely regarded examples of the art deco style. This is the largest "Half Dome" in the Western Hemisphere and in this video we expose some little known secrets about the building.
GPS Location: 39°06'35.7"N 84°32'13.2"W

[@michaelgarrity6090]

Thank God it was saved from the wrecking ball initially abd it's had the rehab work necessary to save it. Such a spectacular building.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Definitely one of a kind.

[@junethomas3509]

Grew up in Cincinnati, UT was the stopping spot in my teen years. WE would stop by Fricke Confectioners on Freeman Ave, & walk to UT eating our Fricke made Dixie cups, (Frozen syrup like a popsicle). we would walk to the terminal up to the fountains then return home. That was a tradition 2-3 times a week. I lived on Wilstach st, which was just 3 blocks away. I only traveled from the terminal twice in 1959 from Cincy to Buffalo NY, got caught in a blizzard in NY. Stayed snowed in for a week. My mom & I went there for the birthth of my sisters 1st baby. I loved it. I wished they would increase train travel then in 1964 from Cincinnati to San Diego to meet up with my husband in the military. the trip was amazing. I keep telling my grandson, to use his Engineering Degree & expand rapid rail across this country. I made him promise me that. I won't be here to see it but it's my prayer. Live in Atlanta Georgia now but I still Love Cincinnati!.

[@robschmidt9852]

When I was young I visited the terminal for the first time near the last day it was open as a train station. We went to get a drink of water and discovered I could hear my brother at the other fountain! We always called it the radio building because it resembled old style radios our grandma had. It is my favorite building in Cincinnati. I have warm memories of the Art Deco buildings around the city.

[@PeaceNStorms]

Trains still run through there

[@nelsonnoname001]

@@PeaceNStorms one train* - thanks Amtrak

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Cincinnati has plenty of Art Deco buildings.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yes they do

[@mikeklaene4359]

The first time being there was in 1957 with a group of Cub Scouts from St Henry grade school in Erlanger, KY. The father of one of the scouts worked for IBM and the CUT was one of the clients where he maintained some equipment. He arranged a guide tour of the facility, including the control tower where we could see the controls for switching tracks. As a mischievous 5th grader it was a dream come true. The final part of the outing was riding a Southern RR train from CUT to Erlanger! My 2nd time there was while I was in the Army after being drafted. IT was March 1968 and I was heading home from Ft Story, VA on leave before shipping out to Thailand. There was a direct train from Norfolk, VA to Cincinnati. It was a LONG coach ride. Thanks for posting this!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome Mike!

[@noahbudenaers5347]

Thank you for your service !

[@dennismiracle5982]

a beautiful Cincinnati landmark and they used it for the inspiration for the DC universe Hall of Justice, iv'e lived in Cincinnati my whole life and remember it before the restoration going to it as a kid in school

[@1013pka]

As a kid in the 60s, I traveled with my family from Danville, KY to Cincinnati on the Southern Railway, my dad’s employer, to visit relatives. It has been a real treat to take my grandkids to the museum several times. The building is a treasure. Thank u for this great video!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome!

[@terrallputnam7979]

I worked at the clean up project at Fernald Feed Materials center in Ross, Ohio. This former Department of Energy Nuclear Weapons Facility is now a nice level green field with a large mound where the low level waste was safely stored. It has a museum and visitor center to see. Our company FERMCO, later known as FLUOR FERNALD, held employee association parties in this fabulous facility. It had a Museum inside with a Humongous whale model hanging from the ceiling. The parties had a Jazz Room, a Country Room, and a Lite Rock room with live bands. I took my beautiful wife to the party there and they had huge tables full of food. The parties were in like 1997-1998 time frame. I was so stoked at the beauty of the building and the architecture as well as the parties with free pictures, free carriage rides, great food, open bar which we didn't use because we do not drink alcohol, and of course the museum. Thank you for making this facility known to other people not as fortunate as we were.

[@sunglowginger766]

Born and raised in Cincinnati (Harrison) for 29 years before relocating to Charleston, SC. My parents are still in Crosby two. Every single time we visit, Union Terminal is a must visit! Love how it is so well cared for. It’s the most beautiful building!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It is a beautiful building.

[@777cayman]

Thank you for the video! My mother brought me there as a small child around 1962 on the train from Indianapolis. It was a sightseeing trip and I remember boating on the Ohio River in a hydrofoil before returning to Indianapolis. I still remember the awe and wonder as a child of seeing that building.

[@CincinnatiWatchCompany]

We are grateful for our Union Terminal and the investment in the quality of life in Cincinnati. Thank you!

[@georgemeyer8521]

When I was young, I use to go down to the terminal. I love this structure. It broke my heart when I heard they wanted to tear it down. They don't build structures like this today with such great pride and quality. The cost alone is incomprehensible. This building was built during the depression. When the Government took over the passenger rail service in 1971, they closed the CUT and Amtrak built an outhouse down on River rd. I went down to the CUT and bought a ticket to Newport News, Virginia just to ride the last train out of such a wonderful terminal. I remember the local news coming on board that night to interview someone who was riding the train just because it was the last train out of such a wonderful terminal that served this city all those years. Everyone they asked why they were riding said they were on the train because they had to get to Virginia, until they asked me. I told them I was riding because it was the last train out of the finest train station I ever saw. The man holding the camera said, "you're on the air" and I was on TV that night! They eventually returned service to CUT which I'm very glad they did. That's how it should be, we just now need to improve the rail service in this country. I hope this structure is here for a long long time to come, and I'm very thankful it has been a part of my life. Thanks for a great video.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you had a chance to catch the last train out.

[@roseflowers7641]

This is one of my favorite KZbin Channels, very well done!

[@mccuenoirfilms]

I’m so glad our city has a love for preserving historical icons like UT! The restoration in 2018 was absolutely incredible.

[@alexismargraf5442]

I am hoping you guys do something with your incomplete subway. It is such a lost moment in time

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

They really did a nice job.

[@judithwalker8682]

MY FAVORITE BUILDING EVER !!!!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Mine too!

[@lance8080]

One of the best museums around.

[@srobert7845]

Great tour and interview.......a wonderful example of saving historical site and repurposing it for the pubic! Generation will now be able to enjoy it!Thanks again for a great video!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks! Glad you like it!

[@DruSteel69]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing.

[@jonniehickson5599]

I spent alot time and days here in my youth. I remember when the had benches and people use to picnic there. I remember when they fixed the clock. At that moment I knew it was going to be closed to the public. I was so upset! I was such a magical place. It doesn't have the same nostalgic feeling since you have to pay to get in and pay for parking.

[@kiwi9147]

I grew up in Cincinnati and remember this building ..even though I was only 7-8 years old I though this amazing building had been demolished ,so seeimg this video made me very happy 😊

[@michaelrief4424]

I was born in 1946 and I remember going down to CUT on a couple evenings to pick up my uncle Joe when he was in the Navy. For a little boy it was fascinating and it’s burned in my memory forever.

[@ricksmiley8833]

Thank you for this presentation. I grew up in Cincinnati and have always loved Union Terminal. I'm so glad it's a functioning facility again and even though I've been there many times, there was a lot in this video I had not seen or heard before.

[@talrhodes]

Thank for this video! My husband and I had our wedding reception in the rotunda. Loved learning about the history of this building.

[@Crmcdizzle]

I would enjoy seeing this great building structure if I was visiting and the addition of the museum and kids fun zone is an attraction that would be great for the kids. But train buffs will wish we still had trains for a normal way of travel.

[@dec6704]

Back in 2013- early 2020, my family and I went here once every single week. I can’t wait until we can do it again after this covid stuff ends.

[@jake2213b]

I have doe some work on the U.T. and got to go into areas not open up to the public or it is use only for a special event. I would tell myself it is a shame that everyone could not view it. But it take money to bring it back to the way it way years ago.

[@llerradish]

I was visiting a friend in Ohio and we rode our motorcycles to Cincinnati. I saw this building and I didn't know what it was or anything about it, but I plan on going back hopefully I'll get to go inside. Very cool

[@arbiter7622]

incredible drone footage

[@phyllissimpson720]

Loved The Union Terminal. In the 60's my dad took the family there quite often. Glad the building is still there.

[@joshmischke9765]

The railyard directly behind the Terminal is Norfolk Southern. Not CSX. Only the first couple tracks are CSX.

[@himbourbanist]

Oh wow I thought the art installation was a Mural, I did NOT know it was a mosaic, incredible artistry for a beautiful station

[@jacquelinek]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@kevind8752]

I remember my parents taking a train from Union Terminal to NY in the mid ‘60’s to visit friends.

[@user-rr3yw9dn1l]

Would love to come see this

[@billcoleman7316]

Thank you! This is a great video.

[@johndaugherty4127]

Excellent presentation.

[@jimsoutdooradventures2748]

Great video, i grew up going here in the seventies and early eighties. I took my kids there in the early 2000's. I have grandkids now,,so another trip is due.

[@johne.porter1298]

The building was the basis for the Hall of Justice on the cartoon "Super Friends".

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

That's what Ive Been told.

[@johne.porter1298]

@historyinyourownbackyard2363 check out the program when possible and if my memory serves right. You might see it at some of the six flags amusement parks as they are contracted with D. C. COMICS.

[@rodgerdalelawless5942]

Awesome!!!!!!!:):)

[@sharonselvey5030]

I also heard Jackie Chandler Sr was working there a couple Years ago when I spoke to him a few Years ago. But I have not been able to see him since then.

[@BrianJonson]

One other detail worth knowing: The 70s cartoon "Superfriends" used Union Center as the model for the Hall of Justice. www.thecincinnatiexperience.com/posts/cincinnati-ohio-home-of-justice-league-HQ

[@johnball3487]

Wonderful video. Sorry that it does not mention the Skinner pipe organ which is in that building and playable and used on occasions!

[@TonyKanameKuran]

0:00 - Meanwhile at the Hall of Justice...

[@johnswigler6512]

Great video!! Love your dress Susie!!

[@salvatoreaubuchon3100]

Didn't mention much of the museum part

[@tameracoates398]

Came here SO MUCH as a little girl. My grandmother would tell me stories about flirting with soldiers through the talking water fountains in the front during WWll. Come full circle my Senior Prom was held in the rotunda under that beautiful domed Mural.

[@RetMadOrganist]

Loved this video and all the information--including the stories in the comments. I've heard there may be a pipe organ in the terminal. Is that true?

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I don't know. I didn't see it when we were filming.

[@RetMadOrganist]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 www.pipedreams.org/profile/cincinnati-museum-skinner

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@RetMadOrganist I honestly don't remember seeing this.

[@RetMadOrganist]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 That's perfectly OK. I wasn't trying to be critical, just providing FYI. It was an excellent video and couldn't possibly have covered everything.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@RetMadOrganist No, you're fine. I wish I would have known about the organ though. I wonder where they keep it when not in use.

[@SandyWolf-]

I've rode the Amtrak in from West Virginia

[@SeaCrestInNOut]

Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice.

[@crystalheart6261]

what an excellent comment! so great😁👍

[@bartleymollohan1090]

I spent a lifetime one day waiting for the Amtrak to show up. That was pre-refurbishment.

[@nickphillips2125]

Why would a train running from Chicago to New York and/or DC travel through Cincinnati?

[@homoerectus744]

I'm surprised nobody is suggesting (ahem) Tartarian....

[@bendelaney7217]

Go figure when a project is not government funded it gets done flawlessly under budget ahead of schedule

[@davidsapadin]

The Winold Reiss Murals were all commissioned by the WPA

[@deejayimm]

I knew it's construction wasn't funded with tax money the second he said it was finished ahead of schedule and under budget.

[@nickphillips2125]

First he said that Union Terminal was built by private money.... later he says, Union Terminal was built by seven railroad companies. Which is it?

[@mtgibbs]

The railroads were/are (except Amtrak) not owned by the government; therefore, it was private money.

[@Frosmad]

sehän on steissi

[@reality_bites7887]

"Where'd the name union come from?" Really? Has this woman never been to a train station? What the hell is wrong with America...

[@billdavis9612]

Didn't seem a bad question to me. I didn't realize the terminal was an answer to lots of disparate railroads that didn't have a common terminal.

[@noahbudenaers5347]

Trains aren’t a common way to travel in the USA!