Union Terminal is the building that stops people in their tracks. Opened in 1933 as the city's grand railway station, it rises at the end of a long approach west of downtown, and its rotunda, a soaring half dome lined with huge mosaic murals of Cincinnati's working people, is one of the great Art Deco interiors in America. Today it is the Cincinnati Museum Center, a cluster of museums under one roof: the Cincinnati History Museum, with a walk-through recreation of the old riverfront; the Museum of Natural History & Science, with fossils, a cave and dinosaur displays; the Children's Museum; the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater; and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. Amtrak trains still call at the station, a reminder of its first life. The museum says it is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and from 13 November 2026 to 4 January 2027 Holiday Junction brings back the much-loved Duke Energy Holiday Trains, included with museum admission.
Hours and dates: the Museum Center is open every day from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours on select holiday dates listed on its website. On Friday 6 November 2026 it closes early, at 2pm, for a special event. Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains runs from 13 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, and it is free for members or included with museum admission, so there is no separate ticket to juggle.
Tickets: buy museum admission online through the museum's own site, which links from this page. The OMNIMAX theater and some special exhibitions are priced separately, and the Holocaust & Humanity Center has its own exhibits in the same building. Ticket prices were not listed on the pages we checked, so compare options on the booking page before you go.
Getting there and around: Union Terminal is at 1301 Western Avenue in the Queensgate area, a short drive or rideshare west of downtown, and it has its own paid parking lot. Even if you are not visiting the museums, the rotunda is worth a look, and the building has a café and shops. Families can easily spend most of a day between the Children's Museum, the natural history galleries and the trains; adults who mainly want the architecture and history can manage in two to three hours. Pair it with the zoo for a festive weekend with children, or with the Freedom Center on the riverfront for a day of Cincinnati history.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to several museums inside a working 1933 Art Deco railway terminal, with the Holiday Junction model trains from 13 November.
Best time
A weekday morning soon after the 10am opening, when the rotunda is quiet and school groups have not yet arrived.
How long
Allow two to three hours for the history museum and the rotunda, and a full day with children.
Tips
Note the early 2pm closing on 6 November, check what is playing at the OMNIMAX before you buy, and look up at the rotunda mosaics on the way in.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture lovers, history fans and families looking for a big indoor day out.
- Families
- The Children's Museum, the dinosaur displays and the Holiday Junction trains can fill an entire day.
- Couples
- Admire the Art Deco rotunda, then spend an unhurried afternoon in the history museum.
- Pair with
- The Freedom Center on the riverfront or the zoo's Festival of Lights in the evening.
- Time needed
- Half a day for adults, a full day with young children.
Good questions
What is inside the Cincinnati Museum Center?+
It houses the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Children's Museum and the OMNIMAX theater. The Holocaust & Humanity Center is in the same building.
What are the Museum Center's hours?+
It is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours on select holiday dates. It closes at 2pm on 6 November 2026.
When is Holiday Junction in 2026?+
Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains runs from 13 November 2026 to 4 January 2027. It is included with museum admission.
Is Union Terminal still a train station?+
Yes, Amtrak trains still stop at the station. Most of the building is now given over to the museums.
How long should I spend at the Museum Center?+
Adults usually spend two to three hours. Families with young children often stay most of the day.
