by Becky Robbins

Created on: September 13, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

The modest beginnings of the Cincinnati Art Museum could be glimpsed with the successful 1876 Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia when the Women's Art Museum Association was formed. This grew into the Cincinnati Museum Association by 1881. "The Art Palace of the West" was officially born in 1886 with the completion of a permanent art building in scenic Eden Park. The Cincinnati Art Museum, one of the oldest art institutions in the United States, has expanded over the years to more than 60,000 works.

With a collection of works dating back over the last six thousand years, the Cincinnati Art Museum will take you on an artistic journey to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Some people prefer the flavor of Far Eastern and Near Eastern art and are not disappointed. The permanent collection even has a Cincinnati Wing to honor artists born or trained in Cincinnati. This wing is home to the famous Cincinnati Rookwood Pottery. It is easy to spend a whole afternoon and still not see all the available works.

Admiring the works of greats like Picasso and Chagall, among other masters, is sure to work up an appetite. The Terrace Cafe is located on the first floor and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00am until 4:00pm. Lunch is available until 2:30 and snacks are available until 4:00. The menu, created by David Cook, owner of Daveed's, a fine dining establishment, includes sandwiches, appetizers, salads, soups, and desserts. When the sun is shining and the weather is warm, many patrons enjoy dining outdoors in the Alice Bimel Courtyard. Sometimes patrons bring their laptops and take advantage of the cafe and courtyard's Wi-Fi.

Although some visitors come to admire the collections and special exhibitions, others come for the special events, programs, and other activities. These activities are the reason Parenting Magazine dubbed the Art Museum as the top art museum for families in the United States. Family First Saturdays is a popular event occurring the first Saturday of each month. This free event has a different theme each month and gets the family involved in art culture with hands-on activities and scavenger hunts. Some of the events have a cost to take part, such as Culture Kids for the preschool aged children. From September through May, children aged 2 through 5 can enjoy story time, snack time, tours and activities on the second Friday of the month. However, a free event preschoolers enjoy is the Wee Wednesdays, which occur on the last Wednesday of the month from September through May. Wee Wednesdays are include interactive story times and scavenger hunts.

Events are not only for the children. Adults can take part in activities like classes, films, gallery talks, and Brunch Art Museum. The second Sunday of the month is a time for adults to come together and enjoy visual arts along with music.

Although the general admission is free, due to the generosity from gifts and endowments, memberships are available offering additional benefits. If you frequent the museum, a membership will qualify you for free opening night parties and special discounts on programs, shop merchandise, and delectable items from the Terrace Cafe.

Cincinnati Art Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00am until 5:00pm. Any day you choose to visit, general admission is free. The Art Museum is located at 953 Eden Park Drive in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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