Art Deco buildings, Cincinnati

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Public Art Deco Buildings

Presented in this section are 12 additional Public buildings in the Cincinnati area that show Art Deco elements. This is not a complete list, there are others built in this modern style of the late 1920’s,1930’s and early 1940’s that we may have overlooked.

Keep in mid that the Art Deco name did not even surface until the late 1960’s. These were simple “modern” building of the day. Some of the early modern styles were referred to as as Moderne, Jazz Moderne, Zigzag Moderne, French Modern Style, Depression Modern and Universalism. Later, names like Art Moderne, Streamline Moderne and Mayan Revival were names used to describe the architectural style now in the wider category of Art Deco.

We did not include residential and very few multifamily dwellings, although the Cincinnati area has many fine examples. Please share information and photos of other buildings we may have left out of this comprehensive look at Cincinnati’s Art Deco architecture.

Please click on thumbnails to see the full gallery with captions.

The U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse completed in 1939 is now known as the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse. It no longer houses the Post Office but is still home to the Federal Courthouse.

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U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse, Art Deco detailing around entryway.

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U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse, now called Potter Stewart Couthouse. Deco detailing above entryway.

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Cheviot Fieldhouse, 3729 Robb Avenue: built 1936, Howard Gillespie, architect. The geometrical façade is vertically stepped back in three tiers, emphasizing height, with central projecting entrance. Tall, narrow windows further accent verticality. The cornice is accentuated by a chevron brick pattern and the roof is barrel-vaulted. National Register of Historic Places, 2009.

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Cincinnati Water Works building on Kellogg Avenue.

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Cincinnati Water Works, Richard Miller Treatment Plant on Kellogg Avenue.

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Voice of America's Bethany Relay Station, now home to the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting.

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Voice of America's Bethany Relay Station, entry door and tower.

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West End firehouse: The curved brick facade of the former West End Firehouse wraps the corner of Central and Freeman avenues, its stout brick columns flanking the truck bays. The firehouse is no longer in use.

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Former West End Firehouse with original Deco style sign. Located in the West End at Central and Freeman Avenues.

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Trailside Nature Center Burnet Woods, early 1940's part of WPA construction projects.

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Carved animal figures in an Art Deco style. Trailside Nature Center Burnet Woods.

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Krohn Conservatory, built in 1933 is part of the Cincinnati Park System. Designed by Rapp & Meacham in an Art Deco style in the form of a Gothic arch.

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Krohn Conservatory, 1933, detail of side entry doors.

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Krohn Conservatory, decorative railings in greenhouse.

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Krohn Conservatory, detail of decorative railing.

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