tours of music hall cincinnati

• Tour Inside Music Hall: Dates & Times | Buy Tickets
• Outdoor Tours: Dates & Times | Buy Tickets
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• Under One Roof: The African American Experience in Music Hall
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• HELEN WALKER KING: “Cincinnati’s Soloist” – A Black Voice for Change Through Music
• EUGÈNE YSAŸE: Legendary Violin Virtuoso, Conductor, Composer, and Music Director of the CSO (1918-1922) and May Festival (1918, 1920)
• Adolph Krebs and the Art of Lithography: Cincinnati Music Hall’s Industrial Exposition Posters
• Children’s Voices: The Legacy of Charles Aiken in Public Schools, Music Hall, and the City that Sings
• Home Sweet Home and the Home Beautiful Expositions
• Nadine Roberts Waters: La Cantatrice de Cincinnati
• Calling All Music Hall Fans! Here are Some of the Many Discoveries You Can Make During an Outdoor Tour
• Following in my Grandfather’s Footsteps in Service to Music Hall
• Music Hall’s Part in Ted Berry’s Fight for Social Justice
• Estella Rowe & Wade Mann: First Local Black Soloists with the CSO
• Presidents, Future and Former, Visited Music Hall
• It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing: Music Hall’s Greystone Ballroom 1928-1935
• Mamie Smith: Queen of the Blues in Cincinnati Music Hall
• Fountain Lewis: The Venerable Barber Who Helped Build Cincinnati Music Hall
• The Presence of Latine and Hispanic Performers on the Cincinnati Music Hall Stage
• Susan B. Anthony & Suffragists Spirits in Music Hall: Three National Political Conventions

Outdoor Building Tours of Cincinnati Music Hall

Outdoor building tours of cincinnati music hall are back.

While anyone can view the structure, only tour attendees will really see the details, understand the significance, and hear the stories about this iconic building!

Tour Content

The Outdoor Building Tour offered by Friends of Music Hall explores Music Hall's history, the symbolism and design of the architecture, the challenges at every step of construction, and the people who made it happen. Also, you’ll get information on the culture and society of the neighborhood in 1878.

We are certain you will gain new appreciation of this iconic structure!

Tour Guides

Friends of Music Hall Tour Guides are all volunteers - individuals who love history. They sincerely love and appreciate this building. Our guides are dedicated, undergo lots of training, and truly enjoy sharing Music Hall with everyone!

Our Guides work hard to ensure guests are entertained while they share fascinating stories and anecdotes. They also encourage interactivity during tours and welcome questions about Music Hall.

Tell Me More About the Outdoor Building Tour

• Outdoor Tours are held through October, rain or shine, on a limited number of Thursdays and Saturdays.
• Tours are approximately 60 minutes long.
• Essentially this is a “walking” tour; however, the tour path is accessible for individuals using walkers or wheelchairs.
• At the date and time of the tour, meet your guide on the front steps of Music Hall at 1241 Elm Street. The guide will be wearing a dark polo shirt and badge and will check you in.

One more important detail: this tour does not go inside Music Hall.

COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES

Yes, this is still very important, for everyone’s safety.

• Tours are limited to 8 people, in order to maintain a safe distance yet still be close enough to the guide to hear.
• Children under the age of 6 and individuals with medical conditions are exempt.
• Guests need to spread out (at least 6 feet) during the tour.
• Guests and guides are asked to use hand sanitizer.
• Guests should cover coughs and sneezes with an elbow or tissue.

Tour Cost and Details

Tickets can be purchased up to three hours before the start of the tour. It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance.

Tour tickets can be purchased online or by calling (513) 621-ARTS [2787]. Tours are limited to 8 people.

• $15 per person
• $5 for children under 12 years of age
• $13 per ticket when you purchase 5-8 tickets together

As COVID-19 safety precautions are needed, tours are limited to 8 people. Individuals and groups larger than 8 should contact the Friends of Music Hall office by calling (513) 744-3293 or by email

Additional discounts

Student groups can take the tour for $5 each. There is also a 10% discount for members of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber, Friends of Music Hall, Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) and for Certified Tourism Ambassadors

Interested? Make it Happen!

For full details, check out the Frequently Asked Questions page . Our FAQ includes information on restaurants within walking distance of Music Hall.

See dates and times for Friends of Music Hall Outdoor Building Tours of Music Hall .

And a reminder: There are also stories about Music Hall in other blogs on this website!

Mindy Rosen is Executive Director of Friends of Music Hall.

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Directions & Parking

1241 Elm St. Cincinnati OH 45202

• Tickets and Information:  (513) 621-2787 [ARTS]
• Administrative Offices:  (513) 744-3344

From I-75 southbound

Exit at Ezzard Charles Drive. Turn left onto Ezzard Charles, which ends at Central Parkway. Music Hall is the building on Central Parkway directly across from Ezzard Charles Drive.

From I-71 southbound

Exit at Reading Road. Bear right onto Reading Road and turn right onto Liberty Street (second light). Turn left onto Central Parkway. Music Hall will be on you left at 14th Street.

From I-71/I-75 northbound

Crossing the Ohio River, move into the center right-hand lane. Bear right at the end of the bridge; take the first exit onto 5th Street. Take the first left just past the Duke Energy Convention Center onto Elm Street and continue to Music Hall, which is between 12th and 14th Streets.

From I-471 northbound

From I-471, take the 6th Street exit. Continue west along 6th Street to Elm Street. Turn right on Elm and continue to Music Hall, which is between 12th and 14th Streets.

Cincinnati Bell Connector (Streetcar)

Running up to 18 hours a day and 365 days a year, the Cincinnati Bell Connector is an electric mode of transportation operating in its first phase on a 3.6-mile loop connecting key communities in the city's urban core.

Use the Music Hall Station at the corner of Elm and 14th Streets.

For more information, visit our Cincinnati Bell Connector info page .

There are more than 2,500 parking spots within four blocks of Music Hall. A 450-space underground parking garage at Washington Park is located directly across Elm Street from the front doors of venue. This convenient parking garage also has ADA Accessible Parking parking and elevators. A surface parking lot between Music Hall and Memorial Hall is accessible from Elm Street and Central Parkway. Convenient parking is also available at the Town Center Parking (CET) Garage on Central Parkway. 

NOTE:  On FC Cincinnati game days, parking will be unavailable or limited to the general public at the following locations due to pre-paid FCC passes: Town Center Garage (no availability ), Washington Park Garage (limited availability), and Mercer Garage OTR (limited availability)

Washington Park Garage

• 1230 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
• Guaranteed parking for  CSO and Pops Subscribers  (for CSO/Pops events only)
• Limited availability on FCC game days due to pre-paid FCC passes

Town Center (CET) Garage

• 1251 Central Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45214
• No availability on FCC game days due to pre-paid FCC passes

SP Parking Lot (uncovered)

• 1228 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
• Guaranteed CSO donor parking (for CSO/Pops events only)

Mercer Garage

• 5 Mercer Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

PCA Parking Lot (Uncovered)

• 250 West Court Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Gateway Garage

• 10 East Central Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45202  

We recommend arriving early for the best parking. You may also drop off patrons in front of Music Hall on Elm Street and then park. If you require wheelchair assistance, please alert a security officer and they will contact a staff member to bring a wheelchair out to the curb and assist you to your seats.

For more information about parking at Music Hall, call (513) 744-3344.

Accessible Parking

ADA Accessible Parking:  There are several ADA Accessible spots at the Washington Park Garage across the street from Music Hall, as well as at the surface parking lot located between Music Hall and Memorial Hall. A convenient drop-off lane is located in front of Music Hall on Elm Street, near the Box Office and wheelchair-accessible entrance (1241 Elm Street). 

NOTE: Music Hall does not own or manage the parking facilities listed below. Parking rates are subject to change and are posted at each lot.

Alternative Transportation

Ridesharing : Consider ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft for an easy commute

Cincinnati Bell Connector : Also known as the streetcar, the Connector stops directly in front of Music Hall on Elm Street. Visit cincinnatibellconnector.com for more information.

Cincinnati Metro : Click here for more information on the Metro bus schedules and stops.

CincyEZPark : This simple app allows you to pay parking meters using your smartphone. Visit cincyezpark.com for more information.

Cincy Red Bike : Pick up or drop off a Red Bike directly in front of Music Hall in Washington Park. Visit cincyredbike.org for more information.

Music Hall Parking Map

Photos: A walk through a ghost tour at Cincinnati Music Hall

The Haunted Ghost Tour That Will Take You To One Of The Most Frightening Buildings In Cincinnati

Andrea Limke

A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.

More by this Author

Cincinnati has an intriguing history and many claim that spirits from our past continue to call our city home, long after they’ve left this world. Ghost stories are as common around the Queen City has arguments about who has the best chili, and many of them are tied to our historic buildings. One of the most iconic and recognizable — Music Hall — is arguably the most beautiful building in Cincinnati, and possibly the most haunted. If you’ve ever been curious about this fascinating structure and the stories behind it, there’s a haunted ghost tour coming up that may be a bit frightening, but also may answer a few lingering questions.

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A ghost tour of Music Hall may just be one of the creepiest, yet most fascinating excursions you can do in Cincinnati. Would you go on this tour? Or maybe you’ve already been? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

For more information and to purchase tickets for this specific tour, visit its website here . And for more haunted places around Cincinnati, check out our previous article here .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Cincinnati Music Hall Indoor Tour

Accessibility Info

Please Note: This event has expired.

Presented by Friends of Music Hall at Music Hall , Cincinnati OH

Tour guide Steve with his Tour group in Springer Auditoium

Presented by the Friends of Music Hall, tour through private and public spaces in this majestic structure led by knowledgeable guides.

Presented by the Friends of Music Hall, tour through private and public spaces in this majestic structure led by knowledgeable guides. See for yourself how it reflects the spirit of both past and present. Discover our work to restore the finial ornamentation from 1878. Tours can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages and interests.  Individuals, small groups and large groups can be accommodated. Tours last about 75 minutes

ADMISSION INFO

$15 per person (Groups of 5 or more qualify for discounts) Students $5 per student.

Phone: (513) 621-2787

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://friendsofmusichall.org

Tour guide Fred Warren in Springer Auditorium in Music Hall

1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Accessibility Information: Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.

Connect with this Organization: DONATE

PARKING INFO

Several parking options surround Music Hall. A 450-space underground garage at Washington Park is located directly across Elm Street from the front doors of venue. This convenient garage also has handicapped parking and elevators. A surface lot between Music Hall and Memorial Hall is accessible from Elm Street and Central Parkway. Convenient parking is also available at the Town Center Parking (CET) Garage on Central Parkway. Pay-on-entry parking is $10-$15 for special events at all nearby lots. For more information about parking at Music Hall, call (513) 744-3344.

Handicapped-Accessible Parking: There are several handicap-designated spots at the Washington Park Garage across the street from Music Hall, as well as at the surface lot located between Music Hall and Memorial Hall and in the Town Center (CET) Garage on Central Parkway. We recommend arriving early for the best parking. You may also drop off patrons in front of Music Hall on Elm Street and then park. If you require wheelchair assistance, please alert a security officer and they will contact a staff member to bring a wheelchair out to the curb and assist you to your seats.

MORE FROM Friends of Music Hall

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Presented by Friends of Music Hall at Music Hall

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Music Hall Indoor Tour

Apr 3 - Apr 25, 2024

CONNECT WITH Friends of Music Hall

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Australian rapper The Kid Laroi brings 'The First Time Tour' to Iowa in July. Get tickets.

Australian rapper and singer The Kid Laroi is stopping at Vibrant Music Hall in July as part of his 2024 tour, "The First Time Tour."

The Kid Laroi, or Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard, will perform at the Live Nation-owned venue on July 7 with Glaive, of the “ hyperpop revolution ” as the Los Angeles Times described it, and alt-R&B artist Chase Shakur .

With more than 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Laroi has collaborated with artists like Justin Bieber to BTS superstar Jungkook. Some of Laroi’s biggest hits have been “Stay,” “Without You” and “Too Much.”

The rapper shared his story and challenges with mental health in the documentary “Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi” released on Prime Video earlier this year.

How to get tickets for The Kid Laroi in Waukee

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. July 7. Tickets are available to purchase on Friday, March 29 at 10 a.m. at livenation.com .  

Paris Barraza is a trending and general assignment reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at  [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.