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Plan My Visit
Visit Cincinnati Museum Center
Whether you’re exploring one of our museums, experiencing a blockbuster special exhibition or attending a private special event, read up on everything you need to know to plan the perfect day.
Tickets
To save time and make your visit as seamless as possible, we encourage guests to purchase tickets in advance.
Museum Admission
Includes Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science and The Children's Museum
Adult: | $22.50 |
Senior: | $15.50 |
Child: | $15.50 |
Member Adult: |
FREE |
Member Child: |
FREE |
Members receive discounts!
Become a Member today to save on programs, exhibits and films throughout CMC.
Museum Location
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45203
Phone: (513) 287-7000
Toll Free: (800) 733-2077
TTY: (800) 750-0750
Email: information@cossetto.net
Museum Hours
Open Thursday – Monday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Member’s-only early entry: Saturdays at 9 a.m.
Customer Service Hours:
Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Accessibility
Do you have questions or comments about accessibility at CMC? Please contact us at accessibility@cossetto.net
Visitor Information
Cincinnati Museum Center is open Thursday – Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cincinnati Museum Center will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
From the North
I-75 S to Western Avenue, Exit 2A.
OR
I-71 S to I-75 N to Liberty Street/Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G.
From the South
I-75 N to US 50 W (River Road/Linn Street), Exit 1D to Gest Street exit (first on left). Turn right on Gest, right at Freeman at first light, and follow the overhead signs for Ezzard Charles Drive.
From the East
US 50 W to I-75 N to Liberty Street/Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G.
From the West
I-74 E to I-75 S to Western Avenue, Exit 2A.
OR
US 50 E (River Road) to Freeman Avenue to Ezzard Charles Drive.
From I-471
I-471 N over DCB Bridge, take US 50 W/I-71 & I-75 exit to I-75 N to Liberty Street/Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G.
Parking
Cincinnati Museum Center parking is $6 per vehicle and free for Members and guests using the Museums for All discount. Guests either need a pre-paid parking ticket, a ticket from the gate, or their Member card to exit the lot.
Members can scan their Member Passes at the parking lot kiosk to receive free parking.
Parking is free if the vehicle is in and out in less than 30 minutes.
For guests with officially registered disability decals, 20 parking spaces are designated and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For special assistance getting into the building, call Public Safety at (513) 287-7048 at least 24 hours in advance. An officer will arrange assistance for you.
Bike racks
Bike racks are available at the north and south ends of the driveway, near the parking lots.
Arriving by private bus or van
Bus and van drivers may drop you off at the entrance. Buses arriving with school groups should park near the rear of the South Lot.
Arriving by The Cincinnati Metro
The Cincinnati Metro Route 49 bus connects downtown to Cincinnati Museum Center. There is a stop near the Museum Center entrance. Download the schedule here.
We offer sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizzas, Greater’s Ice Cream and a Coffee Emporium coffee cart, which offers coffee, tea and snacks. Though our vendors keep different hours, food will always be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food service locations take card payment only.
Concourse Level
Nourish 513
Speciality sandwiches, burgers and salads. Open Thursday – Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
View online menu
Cup and Pint
Coffee, pretzels and ice cold treats.
Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor
Featuring Graeter’s Ice Cream
Lower Level
Coffee cart
Open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Featuring Coffee Emporium coffee and snacks.
Bean Sprouts
Open Thursday – Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bean Sprouts is a nationally-recognized café concept where kids and families participate in a playful eating experience. Its award-winning children’s menu empowers kids to make their own healthy choices. Grown-ups will be delighted with equally tempting adult choices and an organic espresso bar.
Located just outside The Children’s Museum, Bean Sprouts is perfect for refueling after a morning of learning through play.
Bean Sprouts offers a variety of choices for families with picky eaters, allergies and other dietary challenges and adheres to strict ingredient guidelines. The café features sustainable foods, compostable packaging and eco-friendly design.
Guests are permitted to bring their own food and drinks into the building for consumption in seated dining areas. For the safety and preservation of our exhibits and artifacts, food and drink are not permitted to in museums, exhibits or The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater.
Our main gift shop is located on the north side of the Grand Rotunda.
You can also shop our online gift shop by clicking here.
First Aid Services
Basic first aid supplies (band-aids, ice packs, etc.) are available in the Public Safety Office. For emergencies, contact the nearest staff member, who will contact Public Safety. AED defibrillators are located throughout the Museum Center.
Lockers
Lockers are available for use on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Lower Level lobby and towards the back of the Rotunda. Lockers cost $1 per day and can be purchased with a credit card.
Lost and Found
Items turned in to lost and found can be claimed in the Public Safety Office during business hours. Items can be mailed to the owner for a small fee.
Nursing Rooms
We are nursing-friendly. Parents are encouraged to nurse or bottle-feed their babies wherever and whenever they are most comfortable. Nursing rooms can be found next to the Mezzanine B restrooms and the Lower level restrooms for those wishing for more privacy. Nursing parents can also find quiet spaces in the Public Safety Office off the of Rotunda and in the Parent Resource Room in the Little Sprouts Farm exhibit of The Children’s Museum.
Restrooms
Facilities are located towards the back of the Rotunda, on the Mezzanine B level and near the entrance to the Westheimer Gallery. Restrooms are also located in all three museums and outside of the Cincinnati History Library & Archives.
Changing tables are available in both men’s and women’s restrooms. There are adult changing tables located in the Universal Restrooms on the Mezzanine B level and on the Lower level, near the entrance to the Westheimer Gallery.
It is the procedure of Cincinnati Museum Center that both staff and visitors may use the restroom that corresponds to the gender they identify with. There are also universal restrooms located throughout our facility.
Stroller & Mobility Rentals
Strollers are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office. Single strollers are $7 and double strollers are $9. Renters must be over 18 years old and sign the Guest Mobility Equipment Rental Agreement. A driver’s license or credit card will be held at the box office until the stroller is returned.
Wheelchairs and ECVs are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office. Wheelchairs are $5. ECVs are $25. Renters must be over 18 years old and sign the Guest Mobility Equipment Rental Agreement. A driver’s license or credit card will be held at the box office until the wheelchair or ECV is returned.
Tickets
To save time and make your visit as seamless as possible, we encourage guests to purchase tickets in advance online.
If you would like to purchase tickets over the phone or need assistance with your online purchase, please call Guest Services at (513) 287-7001. Our phones are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guests can purchase tickets and Members in-person at the box office during our normal operating hours from Thursday – Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vending Machines
Vending machines are available in the concourse near the OMNIMAX® Theater in the alcove outside the Reakirt Auditorium. Drinks and snacks can also be purchased in our retail spaces and from the coffee kiosk on the lower level.
Water Fountains
Water fountains are near the restroom facilities throughout the building. Water fountains are wheelchair accessible.
Accessibility
Cincinnati Museum Center seeks to inspire people of all ages to learn more about the world with engaging and meaningful educational experiences covering science and regional history. We are intent on breaking down all barriers to this service. It is CMC’s policy to provide the best customer service and reasonable accommodation for our guests with disabilities. To this end, we seek to meet all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Accessibility Amenities
For more information about accessibility amenities, please visit our accessibility page.
Accessible Parking
For guests with officially registered disability decals, 20 parking spaces are designated and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For special assistance getting into the building, call Public Safety at (513) 287-7048 at least 24 hours in advance. An officer will arrange assistance for you.
Automatic Front Doors
Our historic front doors are heavy. Doors to the far left and far right have push-plates mounted on the wall for automatic opening. Some interior doors of the same type also have push-plate controls.
Elevators
The Express Elevator, to the right of the main entrance as you come in the front doors, serves the Lower level (The Children’s Museum, restrooms, grab-and-go food service, Bean Sprouts and the Westheimer Gallery.)
The East Elevator, to the left of the main entrance as you come in the front doors, serves the Mezzanine A level (Ruthven Gallery, Mallory Gallery, classrooms), the Mezzanine B level (Fountain Gallery, classrooms, restrooms) and the Lower level.
There is an elevator located just before the restrooms on the south side of the Rotunda that takes guests down to the Mezzanine level to access The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Cetner and the Cincinnati History Library & Archives.
There is also an elevator just past The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater entrance. This elevator takes guests to 2nd floor north to enter/exit the OMNIMAX® Theater if they cannot use the stairs.
The elevator in the Cincinnati History Museum can be accessed on the Concourse, Mezzanine and Lower Level.
The elevator in the Museum of Natural History & Science can be accessed on the Mezzanine and Lower Level.
Service Animals
Trained service animals required to perform tasks for or assist with a person with a disability are permitted in Cincinnati Museum Center. Service animals should remain on a leash or in a harness and under the control of the owner at all times. In compliance with the ADA, we only allow Service Dogs and Miniature Horses.
For more information, please view the ADA's Service Animal Requirements and the ADA's Service Animal FAQ.
Learn more about our accessibility options. For any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions around our ongoing commitment to accessibility please email us at accessibility@cossetto.net.
Wheelchair & Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV) Rental
Wheelchairs and ECVs are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office. Wheelchairs are $5. ECVs are $25. Renters must be over 18 years old and sign the Guest Mobility Equipment Rental Agreement. A driver’s license or credit card will be held at the box office until the wheelchair or ECV is returned.
Museums for All
Guests with valid food assistance card and photo ID or a valid Medicaid and photo ID will receive free parking and $2/person museum general admission for up to ten guests. At this time, Cincinnati Museum Center will only be accepting food assistance cards or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to qualify for the Museums for All offer. Valid cards from all 50 U.S. states will be accepted. Learn more about Museums for All.
ASTC Reciprocity 90 Mile Rule
ASTC reciprocal admission benefits do not apply to reciprocal members whose place of residence is less than 90 miles* from CMC.
ASTC reciprocal admission benefits also do not apply to members of science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of Cincinnati Museum Center.
*Per ASTC policy, this distance is measured “as the crow flies”, meaning that it is based on the linear radius between your place of residency and CMC, not driving distance.
Backpack Policy
When visiting the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, please minimize what you bring with you during your visit. Backpacks will be inspected prior to being admitted to the museum.
Code of Conduct
Cincinnati Museum Center’s Code of Conduct can be found here.
Food & Beverages
Guests are permitted to bring their own food and drinks into the building for consumption in seated dining areas. For the safety and preservation of our exhibits and artifacts, food and drink are not permitted to in museums, exhibits or The Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater.
Groups
Pre-registered group rates require a minimum of 15 paid guests with a reservation made at least two weeks in advance of the visit date. No other discounts, memberships, or reciprocal benefits can be utilized with a group reservation. If you have questions about group availability, please contact us at (513) 287-7021.
Service Animals
Trained service animals required to perform tasks for or assist with a person with a disability are permitted in Cincinnati Museum Center. Service animals should remain on a leash or in a harness and under the control of the owner at all times. In compliance with the ADA, we only allow Service Dogs and Miniature Horses.
For more information, please view the ADA's Service Animal Requirements and the ADA's Service Animal FAQ.
Learn more about our accessibility options. For any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions around our ongoing commitment to accessibility please email us at accessibility@cossetto.net.
Stollers & Wagons
Guests are permitted to bring strollers and wagons during their visit to Cincinnati Museum Center. Please only park strollers and wagons in marked areas and do not block doors or walking paths.
Please note that large strollers that are wider than 32 inches may not fit through the historic doors.
Unaccompanied Minors
Children who are 12 years old or younger must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or a caregiver who is at least 18 years old.
If the parent of the child is younger than 18 years old, they can accompany the child without an adult.
Children must be at least 13 years old to visit the museum by themselves.
Weapons Policy
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is both an educational facility and an active railway station. In accordance with state guidelines, Homeland Security regulations, and federal law, firearms and deadly weapons of any kind are prohibited within this facility.
Become a CMC Member!
Be the first to see new exhibits, enjoy free admission to all of our museums and get the best price at all of our yearly events.