The American Midwest's First Purpose-Built Museum

At a Glance

The Cincinnati Art Museum on Eden Park opened May 1886 — the first purpose-built museum in the American Midwest. Collection: 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years. Admission free.

A Midwest Citizen's Louvre

1881 civic subscription, James W. McLaughlin's Romanesque-revival building opened 1886 with an attached art academy modeled on the Royal Academy.

Must-See

• Rembrandt Portrait of a Woman (1648); Hals.
• Rosa Bonheur's studio-version Horse Fair.
• Nabis paired with ukiyo-e.
• Cincinnati Wing of regional art.
• Persian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese galleries.

Visiting Tips

25-min bus from downtown. Free. 2.5–3 hours. Closed Mondays. Pair with Krohn Conservatory and the Zaha Hadid–designed Contemporary Arts Center downtown.