How to Visit the Cincinnati Art Museum

The Cincinnati Art Museum, founded in 1881, is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. Located in the city's Eden Park cultural park, just above downtown, the museum features a diverse collection of more than 60,000 art objects. The best part of the museum is that admission is free to all, every day. Read on to learn how to visit the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Explore the permanent collection. The permanent collection of the Cincinnati Art Museum ranges in scope from ancient Egyptian and Grecian art to twenty-first century paintings and sculpture. Highlights include the museum's collection of European miniature portraits, the paintings by European Old Masters and the ancient Nabataean art collection, the only such exhibit outside of Jordan.

2. Visit the Cincinnati Wing. The latest addition to the museum is the Cincinnati Wing, which houses the museum's decorative art collection, including a sizable display of Cincinnati-made rockwood pottery.

3. Take in a temporary exhibit. The Cincinnati Art Museum supplements its permanent collection with a regular schedule of temporary and traveling exhibits. Recent shows have included "LeWitt x 2" featuring the works of Sol LeWitt; "Special Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelbourne Museum" and "Designed to Dazzle: Cincinnati Collects Tiffany Jewelry." Most of the temporary exhibits require an admission fee.

4. Have lunch in the Terrace Cafe. The museum's cafe is a relaxing spot to take a break while visiting the galleries. It serves a variety of sandwiches, salads and afternoon snacks as well as beverages. In the summer months, the cafe has a charming patio that overlooks the Mt. Adams neighborhood.

Tips & Warnings

• The Cincinnati Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Resources

• More About the Cincinnati Art Museum