Duke Energy Children’s Museum Closed Through Spring 2018

Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) announced today that the Duke Energy Children’s Museum is closed through spring 2018 to accommodate construction activity in the space.

As crews work to address and repair 84 years of water damage during the restoration of Union Terminal, we now understand that construction activity will have a significant impact on public access to the Duke Energy Children’s Museum. As portions of the Children’s Museum become an active construction zone, Cincinnati Museum Center made the decision to close the area.

“It has been our intention to keep the Duke Energy Children’s Museum open as much as possible through the restoration of Union Terminal, however, this construction activity is more extensive than anticipated and disrupts public access to these spaces,” says Elizabeth Pierce. “While we know this is disappointing to guests right now, this is necessary for future fun in the space as we diligently worked toward securing
Union Terminal’s long-term future.”

The current restoration of Union Terminal is the first full structural restoration in its 84-year history.  Eight decades of water penetration have taken its toll on the building, seeping through exterior masonry. 

One area that proved particularly susceptible to water penetration is the plaza in front of the building, which sits above mezzanine and lower level museum spaces below, including portions of the Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati History Museum and Duke Energy Children’s Museum.  Steel beneath the plaza has been affected by water penetration and requires more extensive work than anticipated. This work will occur above and adjacent to the Children’s Museum. 

CMC expects this project to be completed in spring 2018. This work does not impact the overall project budget or timeline.

“We are grateful for our community partners who are continuing to share Cincinnati Museum Center’s artifacts and programs throughout Greater Cincinnati as part of Curate My Communityand Create More Curiosity initiatives” says Pierce. “We hope everyone will make Holiday Junction featuring Brickopolis a part of their family memory-making activities this holiday season and get a firsthand look at the amazing repair of Union Terminal.”