Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Ohio

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Cincinnati, Ohio · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen daily 10 am to 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

Cincinnati Museum Center fills the city's historic Union Terminal, a former passenger station turned home for five museums and a theater, and its Cincinnati History Museum runs the nation's largest S-scale train model through a 1940s Queen City in miniature.

  • Inside historic Union Terminal
  • Nation's largest S-scale train model
  • 1940s Cincinnati in miniature
  • Open daily 10 am to 5 pm
  • Holiday Junction each winter
  • Parking $6 a day

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal at a glance

Hours
Daily 10 am to 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; early close at 2 pm on November 6, November 25 and December 24, 2026
Admission
Museum Admission covers the History, Natural History and Children's museums; prices on cincymuseum.org
Seasonal events
Holiday Junction, Halloween at CMC, Friday Night at the Museum, 1940s Day
Plan for
Half a day or more
Best for
Families with model train fans and history lovers
Best ages
All ages
Parking
$6 per day (6 am to 9 pm), free for members
Accessibility
Questions go to accessibility@cincymuseum.org; TTY (800) 750-0750.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Cincinnati.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A great railroad station that became the city's museum home

Union Terminal was Cincinnati's great passenger station, and building it reshaped the west side of the city. The Cincinnati Union Terminal Company, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the City of Cincinnati together built the Western Hills Viaduct across the rail yards for $3.5 million as part of that work. The museum center calls the building a nationally acclaimed historic landmark, and its original art deco dining rooms are still part of the experience.

Today the revitalized terminal is home to Cincinnati Museum Center, which brings together the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, The Children's Museum, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater and the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center under one roof. The Westheimer Exhibit Halls were recently restored to host large traveling exhibitions.

Rail history runs through the Cincinnati History Museum in particular. Its galleries trace how rivers, rails and roads shaped the region, and its signature layout, Cincinnati in Motion, shows the city from the early 1900s through the 1940s at 1/64 scale. For more than 30 years, docents with the museum center's Heritage Programs have also led presentations, walking tours and motor coach tours about the city's past, sharing local history with anyone who wants to dig deeper.

Where the trains are inside Union Terminal

Start in the Cincinnati History Museum. Cincinnati in Motion is a full-motion urban layout of 1940s downtown, built at 1/64 scale with the nation's largest S-scale train model running through it. Look for landmarks including the Roebling Bridge, City Hall and Carew Tower. Nearby, the Shaping Our City gallery explains how rivers, rails and roads defined the region over the centuries.

The same museum lets you walk a recreated Public Landing from the late 1850s and climb aboard the Queen of the West, a replica side-wheel steamboat, with costumed interpreters along the way. Museum admission also covers the Museum of Natural History and Science and The Children's Museum, so a train-focused visit can easily stretch into a full day. Train fans may also want to check the OMNIMAX schedule for Rocky Mountain Express, a film about rail travel through the Canadian Rockies.

Don’t miss

  1. Cincinnati in MotionA 1/64-scale model of the city from the early 1900s through the 1940s, home to what the museum calls the nation's largest S-scale train model.
  2. Shaping Our CityA gallery on how rivers, rails and roads built the Cincinnati region, a good place to connect the model trains to real history.
  3. Union Terminal itselfThe former passenger station is the museum's largest artifact, a historic landmark with its original art deco dining rooms.
  4. Queen of the West at the Public LandingA replica side-wheel steamboat you can climb aboard, showing the river trade that came before the railroads.
  5. Rocky Mountain Express in the OMNIMAXA train film shown on the five-story domed screen, when it is on the schedule.

Model trains, a steamboat and a whole children's museum

Kids who love trains can spot landmarks and moving trains on Cincinnati in Motion, then climb aboard the replica steamboat at the Public Landing. The Children's Museum is part of standard museum admission, so younger kids have a dedicated place to play when they need a break from the history galleries.

Families can also time a visit for the free-flowing fun of seasonal days: Halloween at CMC on October 31 is a costumed family day, and Holiday Junction runs from mid-November into early January. Buying tickets online ahead of time saves waiting at the door.

Plan your visit: tips for Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

  • Buy tickets in advance online to save time at the door.
  • Members get free parking, free museum admission and Saturday early entry at 9 am.
  • Check the museum's detour page before you drive, as roadwork can change your route.
  • Sign up for the email newsletter for $3 off museum admission.
  • On third Fridays the History Museum stays open until 8 pm.

Holiday Junction, which the museum calls its signature holiday experience, runs from November 13, 2026 to January 4, 2027 in the Westheimer Exhibit Halls. Halloween at CMC on October 31 brings a costumed family day of science and spooky fun. For more seasonal ideas around the state, browse our lists of Christmas train rides in Ohio and Halloween train rides in Ohio.

Members, donors and docents

Cincinnati Museum Center relies on members, donors and volunteers, including the Heritage Programs docents who have led history tours for more than 30 years. You can support it with a membership, which includes free admission to all its museums and free parking, or with a donation toward its operating budget.

More trains around Cincinnati

Across the river, the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati is about 4 miles away. For a real train ride, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad is about 28 miles north, and the Carillon Historical Park railway collection in Dayton is about 46 miles away. See Ohio's train museums for more.

Every train museum in Ohio

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

When the OMNIMAX here shows Rocky Mountain Express, the lights drop and then a whole dome of train and mountains glows overhead. That is how the tunnel feels in our book: Rally sits in the dark with Mom and Dad, then a big bright light bursts in and everyone cheers. My mom dreamed up that moment before she passed in 2021. Her story is on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Cincinnati Museum Center trains: 20 common questions

Is there a train exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center?

Yes. The Cincinnati History Museum inside Cincinnati Museum Center has Cincinnati in Motion, a 1/64-scale model of the city from the early 1900s through the 1940s that the museum says holds the nation's largest S-scale train model. The Shaping Our City gallery also covers how rails, rivers and roads shaped the region.

What exhibits are at the Cincinnati Museum Center?

Cincinnati Museum Center houses the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, The Children's Museum, the OMNIMAX Theater and the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center. As of October 2026, LEGO Jurassic World: The Exhibition runs through January 4, 2027, and Holiday Junction opens November 13.

What is Cincinnati in Motion?

Cincinnati in Motion is a full-motion layout of downtown Cincinnati in the 1940s, built at 1/64 scale inside the Cincinnati History Museum. It gives an aerial view of the city with landmarks like the Roebling Bridge, City Hall and Carew Tower, and trains run through it on what the museum calls the nation's largest S-scale train model.

What are the Cincinnati Museum Center hours?

As of October 2026, Cincinnati Museum Center is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It closes early at 2 pm on November 6, November 25 and December 24, 2026. Members get early entry on Saturdays at 9 am, and customer service answers calls daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Which ticket do I need to see the trains at Cincinnati Museum Center?

Standard Museum Admission includes the Cincinnati History Museum, where the train layout is, along with the Museum of Natural History and Science and The Children's Museum. OMNIMAX films and special exhibitions are ticketed separately. Current prices are on cincymuseum.org, and buying ahead online is recommended.

Where is Cincinnati Museum Center?

Cincinnati Museum Center is in Union Terminal at 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203. From the north or west, take I-75 to Western Avenue, Exit 2A; from the east, take I-75 North to Liberty Street and Ezzard Charles Drive, Exit 1G. Check the museum's detour page, because roadwork can affect your route.

How much is parking at Cincinnati Museum Center?

As of October 2026, parking is $6 per day between 6 am and 9 pm and $10 overnight between 9 pm and 6 am. Parking is free for Cincinnati Museum Center members. Members and guests with prepaid parking scan a QR code or barcode at the gates, while others take a ticket on entry.

Is Cincinnati Museum Center in the old Union Terminal train station?

Yes. Cincinnati Museum Center occupies Union Terminal, the city's historic passenger station, which it calls a nationally acclaimed historic landmark. The building was revitalized to house its museums and theater, and its original art deco dining rooms are still used for events. It is also rented for private events.

Is Cincinnati Museum Center good for toddlers?

Yes. The Children's Museum is included in standard museum admission and gives little ones a place to play, while the train layout and the replica steamboat at the Public Landing are easy for small kids to enjoy. Everything is indoors, which helps in bad weather. Plan breaks, since the building is large.

How long should I spend at Cincinnati Museum Center?

Plan at least half a day. The train layout and history galleries alone can fill an hour or more, and admission also covers the natural history museum and The Children's Museum. Adding an OMNIMAX film or a special exhibition can stretch a visit to most of the day, with the museum open until 5 pm.

Does Cincinnati Museum Center have a Christmas train display?

Cincinnati Museum Center's holiday event is Holiday Junction, which it calls its signature holiday experience, running November 13, 2026 to January 4, 2027. The museum's online description does not detail the trains in it, so check cincymuseum.org for what is included. The Cincinnati in Motion layout is part of the permanent history museum year-round.

What is Halloween at CMC?

Halloween at CMC is a family-friendly day on October 31 from 10 am to 5 pm, with spooky science activities, lab fun with the museum's scientists and a Monster Mash. Costumes are encouraged. Adults can also look for the 21 and over After Hours Halloween Edition evening in the natural history museum.

Can you see trains in the OMNIMAX at Cincinnati Museum Center?

The OMNIMAX lineup has included Rocky Mountain Express, a film about traveling through the Canadian Rockies by train, on the five-story domed screen. Films change about every four months, so check the showtimes page before you go. OMNIMAX tickets are sold separately from museum admission.

Is Cincinnati Museum Center wheelchair accessible?

Cincinnati Museum Center invites accessibility questions and comments by email at accessibility@cincymuseum.org, and it offers a TTY line at (800) 750-0750. A digital, printable museum map is on the website to help plan your route through the building. Contact the museum before your visit with specific needs.

Can I book a school field trip or group visit at Cincinnati Museum Center?

Yes. Cincinnati Museum Center handles school field trips and group reservations, and you can request them through the contact form on cincymuseum.org by choosing the field trips and group reservations option. You can also call (513) 287-7000 or toll free (800) 733-2077 for help with group bookings.

Can you have a private event at Union Terminal?

Yes. Cincinnati Museum Center hosts private events at Union Terminal for groups from 20 up to 6,000 guests, with catering packages, art deco dining rooms and auditoriums. For details, call (513) 621-3326 or email events@cincymuseum.org. Event inquiries are handled separately from general museum questions.

Does Cincinnati Museum Center offer rail history tours?

Cincinnati Museum Center Heritage Programs have run presentations, walking tours and motor coach tours on local history for more than 30 years, led by volunteer docents, along with history sessions and mini tours. Topics change through the year, so check the Heritage Programs listings on cincymuseum.org for current tours and prices.

Is the Underground Railroad museum at Cincinnati Museum Center?

No. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a separate museum at 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, phone (513) 333-7500. It tells the story of the Underground Railroad, the network that helped enslaved people reach freedom, and is not a train museum. Cincinnati Museum Center is at Union Terminal on Western Avenue.

How can I save on Cincinnati Museum Center admission?

Members get free admission to all of Cincinnati Museum Center's museums, free parking, Saturday early entry and discounts on programs and films. The museum also offers $3 off museum admission when you sign up for its email newsletter. Combination tickets for special exhibitions and OMNIMAX films are sometimes offered.

What train museums are near Cincinnati Museum Center?

The Cincinnati Railway Museum is about 2 miles away, and the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati in Kentucky about 4 miles. For a train ride, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad is about 28 miles north, and the Carillon Historical Park railway collection in Dayton is about 46 miles. The Whitewater Valley Railroad in Indiana is about 49 miles.

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