J. Miles Wolf and the Cincinnati Preservation Association presents a photographic project supported by FotoFocus  featuring photography, informative text and historic images from the Cincinnati History Library and Archives of the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Just completed: 

Art Deco Architecture of Cincinnati exhibit at the Annex Galley

July 13-August 27, 2022

For more than 50 years, Cincinnati Preservation has been working to save the places that make Cincinnati special. We see preservation as part of a larger mission, to promote vibrant, walkable, sustainable neighborhoods and strengthen the local economy. www.cincinnatipreservation.org. 

Photographer, artist and publisher, Wolf’s photographs are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the Cincinnati Art Museum. He has published 10 books of regional photographs. To see more of his Cincinnati photographs visit the website. To see more architectural photography, visit JMilesWolf.com.

The Times-Star Building was built in 1933 as a newspaper printing and production house. Taft was president and publisher and he hired Samuel Hannaford and Sons to design a modern building that represented the entire history of printing and publishing. His design showcases imprortaint figures from the history of printing from Egyptian hieroglyphics to early printing presses

• Built in 1933  
• Built by Charles P. Taft (1843-1929) Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-chief of the Times-Star  
• Architect was Samuel Hannaford and Sons  
• Rich in Art Deco art  
• History of printing depicted in the Art Deco figures 
• Located in downtown Cincinnati at 800 Broadway 



• National Register of Historic Places
• Communications theme art showing telephones, headsets, operators, etc. 
• Stone bas-reliefs representing the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
• Interior not open to the public 
• When built, it housed the world’s longest straight switchboard with 88 operator positions. 
• opened in 1931 and still occupied by Cincinnati Bell. 

• National Historic Landmark
• Home to Cincinnati Museum Center, Omnimax Theater and Holocaust Museum. 
• National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The nation's highest honor for museums and libraries
• Designed by Fellheimer & Wagner with Paul Philippe Cret 
• Named one of the Top 50 architecturally significant buildings in America by the American Institute of Architects. 
• Opened in 1933 after 4 years of construction.

• Built in 1930  
• Built by John J. Emery and William Starrett
• Architect was W.W. Ahlschlager along with Delano & Aldrich
• National Historic Register and National Landmark status from the U.S. Department of the Interior. 
• Was tallest building at 49 stories and 574 feet in the west of the Alleghenies when completed.
• Located in downtown Cincinnati at 35 West Fifth Street

A downtown Cincinnati icon since 1931, the Netherland Plaza's authentic French Art Deco character is today recognized as a National Historic Landmark.  The hotel's Hall of Mirrors banquet room was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Art deco themes can be found throughout the building, in floral pattern plaster, marble and paintings. Highly detailed metalwork in brass, nickel and bronze are in light fixtures, air vents and elevator doors. Locally sourced inlaid Rookwood Pottery floral tiles adorn the east and west entrances of the building from the arcade. Sculpture on the exterior and interior of the building were executed by New York City architectural sculptor Rene Paul Chambellan.

• Built in 1931 as part of the Carew Tower complex 
• Built by John J. Emery and William Starrett
• Architect was W.W, Ahlschlager along with Delano & Aldrich
• National Historic Register and National Landmark status from the U.S. Department of the Interior. 
• Historic Hotels of America 
• Located in downtown Cincinnati at 41 West Fifth Street