CINCINNATI — One of the most beloved parts of the Cincinnati Museum Center is about to reopen, with two other exhibits making their debut.
"Cincinnati in Motion" is the tiny but mighty moving model of downtown Cincinnati, featuring train models from the 1910s, '20s, '30s and '40s. After closing with Union Terminal in 2016, the exhibit will reopen March 20. The renovated gallery showcases cleaned and repaired historic train models as well as new lighting and sound.
Whitney Owens, chief learning officer at Cincinnati Museum Center, said a lot of time went into refreshing the “fan-favorite” exhibit.
“We’ve really been working on this model for a little over a year now,” she said. “We’ve been able to get back into Union Terminal and add new elements, designs, fun new experiences and bring it back to life.”
Alongside the resurrection of "Cincinnati in Motion," a new exhibit called "Shaping Our City" — also opening March 20 — will explore how transportation has influenced the Cincinnati region.
“This is looking at the way that rivers and rails and roads have really shaped the Cincinnati that we know today,” Owens said.
"Shaping our City" will include everything from streetcars to the popular Lime scooters of today.
A third exhibit opens in late April and explores what people do in Cincinnati rather than how they get around. The "You Are Here" exhibit is about working, living and playing in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Owens said all three exhibits work together to tell a story.
“Redoing all of these galleries gives us an opportunity to tell the full story of all of the diversity within our region,” she said.
She added more new and refreshed exhibits will return to Union Terminal later in 2020.
