Cincinnati Music Hall facts for kids
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| Address | 1241 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°6′34″N 84°31′8″W / 39.10944°N 84.51889°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public transit |  Connector at Washington Park Metro Red Bike |
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| Operator | Cincinnati Arts Association | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 2,289 (Springer Auditorium) 1,300 (Ballroom) |
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| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1876–1878 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 14 May 1878 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renovated | 1969–1975, 2016–2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenants | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati Ballet Cincinnati Opera Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra May Festival Chorus |
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Cincinnati Music Hall is a famous building in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was finished in 1878 and is a top spot for classical music shows. Many important groups call it home, like the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
In 1975, it became a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very special building because of its unique design. The building has a cool Venetian Gothic architecture style. It was built to host both music events and big industrial shows. You can find it at 1241 Elm Street, right across from Washington Park.
Some people say Music Hall is one of the most haunted places in America. This is because it was built on top of an old burial ground for people who couldn't afford a proper cemetery. In 2014, it was listed as one of "America's 11 most endangered historic places." But don't worry! After a big $143 million makeover, Music Hall reopened in 2017, looking better than ever.
Contents
What Performance Spaces Are Inside Cincinnati Music Hall?
Music Hall has several amazing spaces for different events. Each one has its own history and purpose.
Springer Auditorium: The Main Stage
Springer Auditorium is the main performance hall. It's named after Reuben Springer, who helped fund the building. This huge room can hold over 2,200 people for symphony concerts. It's home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Ballet, and the Cincinnati Opera.
The auditorium also has a giant chandelier. This beautiful piece came from Czechoslovakia in many parts. It weighs about 1,500 pounds and is 21 feet wide! It has 96 lights, each with its own bulb.
Music Hall Ballroom: For Big Events
The Music Hall Ballroom is a large space that can fit up to 1,300 people. It's one of the biggest meeting areas in Cincinnati. People use it for parties, fashion shows, and big dinners.
This space has been around since 1928 and has been updated many times. In 2007, a special "Mighty Wurlitzer" theater organ was brought here. It used to be in an old movie theater in Cincinnati.
Corbett Tower: A Historic Gathering Spot
Corbett Tower is on the third floor of Music Hall. It was once called Dexter Hall and was used for music classes. Later, it even hosted radio and TV broadcasts.
In 1972, it was renovated and renamed for J. Ralph and Patricia Corbett, who supported Music Hall for a long time. Today, Corbett Tower is used for weddings, dinners, and parties. It has a stage, sound and light systems, and a dance floor.
Wilks Studio: A New Flexible Space
Wilks Studio is a newer space added during the 2016-17 renovation. It's a flexible room that can be used for rehearsals or events. It can seat up to 200 people.
Both the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera use this studio for practice and smaller shows.
Other Areas to Explore
Music Hall also has other cool spots. The Taft Suite is a private room with restored panels from an old organ. The Music Hall Foyer is a large gathering area used before shows and for private parties.
What is Cincinnati Music Hall's Architecture Like?
Cincinnati Music Hall was designed by architect Samuel Hannaford. It's a great example of the Victorian Gothic Revival style. This style has steep roofs, fancy brickwork, and detailed windows.
What's interesting is that Music Hall is actually three separate buildings joined together. There's the main Music Hall, and then the North and South Exposition Buildings on either side. Each building has unique stone carvings. The main Music Hall has musical instruments carved into it. The South building has flowers and birds, and the North building has scientific tools.
The building used to have even more detailed painted designs on its outside. But during a renovation in the 1970s, these details were accidentally removed when the building was sandblasted.
The History of Cincinnati Music Hall
Music Hall has a long and interesting history, starting even before it was built.
Before Construction Began
In 1818, the city of Cincinnati bought the land where Music Hall now stands. For a while, it was used as a hospital and asylum. Later, after a serious illness outbreak in 1832, it became a burial ground for the poor.
By 1857, the city was growing, and the area was no longer suitable for a cemetery. So, in 1859, the land became Elm Street Park. It was used for big public shows and events until 1876, when it was given to the Music Hall Association.
Early Festivals and Exhibitions
Cincinnati held its first big industrial show in 1869, which was a huge success. At the same time, German musicians wanted to build a temporary hall for a large singing festival in 1870. The two groups decided to work together and build a shared space. It was sometimes called Exposition Hall or Saengerfest Hall.
Exposition Hall: A Busy Place
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Exposition Hall was a massive wooden building. It was so big that it hosted the 1876 Republican National Convention, where Rutherford B. Hayes was chosen as a candidate for president.
Legend says that during a music festival in 1875, a thunderstorm hit. Rain on the tin roof was so loud it drowned out the choir! A wealthy man named Reuben R. Springer was in the audience. He decided then that Cincinnati needed a permanent, better building for music.
Building the Music Hall
In 1875, Reuben Springer offered to donate $125,000 to build a new hall. He had two conditions: the land had to be tax-free, and the community had to raise another $125,000. When not enough money was raised, Springer gave even more. He wanted to make sure there were also buildings for industrial shows.
The total cost for Music Hall was over $300,000, with the exhibition wings costing another $146,000. Many community leaders, like John Shillito, helped organize the Music Hall Association to raise money and oversee construction.
Construction started in 1876. The main Music Hall building was built first, and then the North and South Exposition Halls were added. Even though they were built separately, they were connected by walkways. This allowed different events to happen at the same time.
Opening Day and Beyond
The very first performance at Music Hall was on May 14, 1878. About 6,000 people watched an opera and a symphony. These shows were special because they marked the new home for the May Festival Chorus and the Cincinnati Opera. The North and South Exposition Halls were finished a year later, in September 1879.
Famous Performances and Events
Music Hall has hosted many important guests and events over the years.
- In 1879, President Ulysses S. Grant spoke there to a huge crowd.
- Other presidents like William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt also visited.
- In 1880, the Democratic National Convention was held at Music Hall. This is where they chose their candidates for president and vice president. It was also special because telegraph wires were set up for the convention, which was new for a performance hall.
Many famous musicians have performed at Music Hall, including:
- Frank Sinatra
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Johnny Cash
- Ray Charles
- Pink Floyd
- Bruce Springsteen
- B.B. King
Before they had their own buildings, some Cincinnati groups were based at Music Hall. These included the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cincinnati College of Music. For over 30 years, one of the exhibition halls even had a roller skating rink!
The Big Renovation (2016–2017)
In 2016, Cincinnati Music Hall closed for 14 months for a huge $143 million renovation. This project added 30,000 square feet of new space and updated the old parts of the building. Half of the money came from private donations, and the other half from public funds. Music Hall officially reopened in October 2017 with a weekend of performances and tours.
Is Cincinnati Music Hall Haunted?
Many people who work at Music Hall have shared stories about strange things happening there. Patricia K. Beggs, the CEO of the Cincinnati Opera, has said, "Ghosts? Um, yes. Indeed, there are Music Hall ghosts."
Erich Kunzel, a famous conductor, once said he met "people" (meaning ghosts) when he worked there late at night. He said, "They're very friendly." Reports of ghosts started even before Music Hall was built, when the ground was first dug up.
However, not everyone has had spooky experiences. Some employees say they've never seen anything unusual. They think some strange sounds might just be because of Music Hall's amazing acoustics, which can make sounds travel far.
Because of these stories, Music Hall has been featured on TV shows like The Travel Channel's Most Terrifying Places in America and SYFY's Ghost Hunters.
See also
- List of concert halls
- List of opera houses
- List of reportedly haunted locations in the United States
