Top 10 Interesting and Unique Museums in Cincinnati for Seniors

Now that life is getting back to normal it’s a great time to get out and visit some of Cincinnati’s may wonderful museums. Keep in mind that many still have COVID-19 protocols in place, but that won’t dampen the excitement and fun to be had. Here’s a look 10 of the best!

1) The Cincinnati Fire Museum

As the birthplace of professional firefighting, the Cincinnati Fire Museum at 315 West Court Street is a place full of history, technology and pride. Housed in the original Engine Company #45 Fire House that dates back to 1906, the CFM is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Following the timeline of firefighting as it advanced, the exhibits span eras from the mid-1800s to the present. CFM tours can be guided or self-guided offering a rich experience as well as an educational one that teaches fire prevention and safety. A great experience for seniors and their families, the CFM offers a gift shop for souvenirs and group rates with senior discounts.

2) The Cincinnati History Museum

The diverse and rich history of Cincinnati surrounds you at the Cincinnati History Museum in the Cincinnati Museum Center where visitors can spend time at the Public Landing where historic riverside shopfronts and the riverboat Queen of the West provide a hands-on look at the city’s past. Also centered around the Ohio River and the downtown is the Cincinnati in Motion gallery which was recently renovated. Enjoy the historic S-model trains in an interactive setting with new lighting and sound. The entire museum is a deep dive into the history of the city and the many forces that shaped it into the wonderful place it is today. Senior admission is discounted.

3) The Museum of Natural History & Science

The Museum of Natural History & Science at the Cincinnati Museum Center will make seniors feel like kids again with interesting and captivating displays and programs. Founded as the Western Museum (Yes Cincinnati was “the west” back then!) in 1818, just 30 years after the city itself was founded, the museum has grown and evolved into what it is today.

Visitors can roam among the skeletons of ancient specimens in Dinosaur Hall, learn about science during Science Live! shows at the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage, or join an underground expedition into the Cave’s 500 feet of limestone passages. For space enthusiasts, don’t miss the Neil Armstrong Space Exploration Gallery that celebrates the historic Apollo 11 mission in exhibits and a 360-degree immersive theater. And to feel really cool, the new Ice Age Gallerylets visitors get up close and personal with ancient giants from the Pleistocene era. Senior rates are discounted.

4) The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum

There’s nothing more American than baseball and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is among the best places to experience the fascinating history of the sport in Cincinnati. This wonderland of baseball offers a replica jersey collection, stories about past pennants, historic information about the Negro leagues, and of course the lives of great Reds players. Especially well-suited for seniors, the museum is wheelchair accessible and video presentations offer open captioning and an assisted-listening system is available. For a great senior group experience try the Bruch Brews & Baseball which begins at Moerlein Lager House and culminates with an outdoor tour of Great American Ball Park. Museum admission is discounted for seniors and military veterans are admitted free.

5) The American Sign Museum

We are a nation of signs and for seniors, historic signs can bring back a flood of fond memories from the past. At the American Sign Museum, the largest of its kind in the country, visitors stroll down “Main Street” and revisit decades of signs, including hand-crafted neon signs, and learn the history behind them. And for neon enthusiasts, don’t forget the Neonworks of Cincinnati, a fulltime workshop where workers still bend tubes for neon signs in use today. Seniors receive discounted admission.

6) The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Examining our nation’s past, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center  offers a variety of exhibits, docent-led tours and interactive displays designed to tell the long history of abolition and the underground railroad that helped slaves break free and live free. Also included is the world’s first permanent museum exhibition about modern day slavery and human trafficking to help raise awareness and find ways to end it. Senior discounts are offered.

7) The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

A tribute to those who serve in law enforcement, the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum looks in-depth at the people behind the badge in the greater Cincinnati area. Visitors can experience every aspect from uniforms to firearms to the history of crime fighting as it evolved in the city. To truly experience the life of an officer, the museum’s Law Enforcement Simulator provides the opportunity to better understand what it’s like to stand in their shoes during a critical situation. Seniors receive discounted admission.

8) The Harriet Beecher Stowe House

At the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the legacy and life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” is on display with a variety of options including tours, lectures and readings about the famed abolitionist. The restored structure was her home for 18 years during which many notable educators, clergy and anti-slavery advocates visited and learned about the civil and human rights movement during and beyond the Civil War. The first floor of the house is wheelchair accessible and senior discounts are offered.

9) The Skirball Museum in Cincinnati

The whole family will enjoy a trip to the Skirball Museum in Cincinnati at Hebrew Union College. Celebrating the Jewish tradition of welcoming everyone, the museum offers a variety of exhibits from the present to the past including a full-size replica of a Polish Aron Hakodesh (Holy Ark) that was destroyed by the Nazis and the gallery of Jewish arts and artifacts in diverse media. Visitors can also view the Weinberg Torah scroll which survived the devastation of Kristallnacht in 1938 as well as ancient clay objects from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Contact the museum to schedule a visit.

10) Taft Museum of Art

A treasure trove of fine art, the Taft Art Museum is temporarily housed in the Fifth Third Gallery during renovations to the original Taft family home, built in 1820. Among the exhibitions is “In a New Light” which examines the collection through “a 21^st century lens.” During the renovation, more than 40 works of art borrowed from the Taft Museum can be seen at the Cincinnati Museum Center in the “Borrowed Gems” exhibition. Advanced ticket purchase is advised.

Cincinnati has so much to offer seniors and at StoneBridge at Winton Woods we encourage our residents to take advantage of every opportunity. To learn more about life at Stonebridge, our independent living options and amenities, contact us today.