Taft Museum of Art
Taft Museum of Art
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Built around 1820 as a private home for several of Cincinnati’s most prominent citizens, the Taft Museum of Art is now one of the finest small art museums in America and holds National Historic Landmark status for its historic house and Duncanson murals. Here, you’ll find gems of history nestled into every nook and cranny in our period-inspired rooms—each their own canvas of creativity—that surround you in stories that have endured for generations. Our 200-year-old house holds a remarkable collection that spans the Middle Ages through the 19th century with European and American paintings, and 18th-century watches, Chinese porcelains, and French Renaissance enamels. The collection features iconic artists including Rembrandt, Goya, Gainsborough, Turner, Ingres, Whistler, and Sargent, as well as Federal-period American furniture and the most significant pre-Civil War domestic murals in the United States.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: Central Business District
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See what travellers are saying
- VoixDuChocolatWalla Walla, Washington128 contributionsA Beautiful Small MuseumMy friend and I had seen many recommendations for the Taft, supposedly one of the finest small art museums in the US. And it was everything the recommendations claimed. A former home, the museum now houses paintings, Chinese ceramics, medieval devotional objects, and much more. Please do make the time to go here.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 14 October 2023
- Richard C793 contributionsgreat collection, beautiful settingAbsolutely wonderful setting with some great art. You'll find great works by Turner, Sargent, Whistler, and Raeburn. Folks who work there are friendly and smart, and if you haven't been here, you'll delighted that you now know about it.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 March 2024
- Kathy KAllen, Texas177 contributionsA Special GemAn interesting little hotel in the former home of the Taft family (brother of the President). Beautiful Chinese porcelain, European landscapes & portraits and an interesting special exhibition of photography. Allow 60-90 minutes to fully explore this little gem.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
383 reviews
Excellent
253
Very good
91
Average
27
Poor
7
Terrible
5
JanetWoo
Hobart, IN107 contributions
Sept 2022
Came to Cincy from Chicago just to see the Jane Austen adaptation costume exhibit. We arrived early enough to get a primo parking space under the museum, and went in through the elevators in the parking garage. Saw the wonderful dining spot there, and since we came in a different way, didn't have to go through the crowded front entry. The guy at the gift shop checked us in and gave us our stickers, but was disappointed that the gift shop had no JA merchandise. Not even a T-shirt or mug! Missed opportunity! However, my husband enjoyed coffee at the little cafe's table while we waited for our entry time, and the security guard to the costume exhibit was both friendly and knowledgable. The main house and museum were just as extraordinary, and perhaps more so. I loved the draperies (!) and the furnishings, and the murals in the old front hall were astonishing. The descriptions for the costumes, however, were at exactly the wrong focal length for me, so I had to constantly switch between my reading glasses and my driving glasses, and there was no paper to write on in the little interactive nook. It was not expensive really, as parking is free, and we only bought a "Tiny Dog" book ($10) at the gift shop and $5 for the cup of coffee (it was less, but I tipped the waitress 50% since she kindly let us sit there without a reservation). I would come again, with a reservation to dine, since that seems pretty awesome, both inside and out. Would also budget more time, since many of the portraits and other items (like enamel watches) there were really worth lingering over. So glad they had the JA exhibit, but wanted more!
Written 6 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron S
New York City, NY5,930 contributions
Mar 2021
Absolutely wonderful! A small private collection of the Tafts located in their formed mansion showing their personal taste. A Rembrandt and three Halses are definite highlights but the collection ranges from Corneille de Lyon to Dutch painters (de Hoogh, ter Borch, Steen) to Goya, Turner, Corot and Sorolla. A couple of good Sargents, the portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson being one of them, and an interesting painting by Henry F. Farny. Excellent!
Written 7 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N0rmalee
Bossier City, LA1,020 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We had just come from the Cincinnati Museum of Art, which is huge and where we spent 2 hours when we went to this one. Free parking garage is nice. Only exhibits are on part of the 2nd floor. Lots of pocket watches, Chinese art and vases, portraits and landscapes. Not really our thing and we were out within 1/1 hour after going all through it. One Faberge item. Photography is allowed. We did learn that the Taft that lives here was the older half brother of President Taft, who visited here often.
Written 16 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrmonaco
Chicago, IL263 contributions
July 2022 • Family
Stayed at Lytle Park Hotel so getting here was very easy, walk across the street. Got here at opening time at 11am. This museum is one of the best I have been to. I appreciated the art but more so the amazing upkeep of the mansion. It was a pleasure just to walk around and admire the home itself. The doors, paint and carpets were in great order. It’s a lot better to appreciate art when the setting is just right. I wanted to try the cafe but didn’t have the time to stay for it. Would return if I find myself again in Cincy.
Written 11 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy F
Sunnyvale, CA78 contributions
June 2023 • Friends
It's a very clean and accessible museum. It's not a stuffy old house like some other small museums I've been to in the past. The focus of the museum is on paintings and the architecture of the mansion.
The featured special exhibits were "The Boat Trip", a series of fantastic miniature etchings by Charles Francois Daubigny, and an exhibit of women photographers, which included many of the legendary photographers such as Berenice Abbot and Immogen Cunningham.
It was definitely a worthwhile visit.
The featured special exhibits were "The Boat Trip", a series of fantastic miniature etchings by Charles Francois Daubigny, and an exhibit of women photographers, which included many of the legendary photographers such as Berenice Abbot and Immogen Cunningham.
It was definitely a worthwhile visit.
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VoixDuChocolat
Walla Walla, WA128 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
My friend and I had seen many recommendations for the Taft, supposedly one of the finest small art museums in the US. And it was everything the recommendations claimed. A former home, the museum now houses paintings, Chinese ceramics, medieval devotional objects, and much more. Please do make the time to go here.
Written 14 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard C
Virginia793 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Absolutely wonderful setting with some great art. You'll find great works by Turner, Sargent, Whistler, and Raeburn. Folks who work there are friendly and smart, and if you haven't been here, you'll delighted that you now know about it.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy K
Allen, TX177 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
An interesting little hotel in the former home of the Taft family (brother of the President). Beautiful Chinese porcelain, European landscapes & portraits and an interesting special exhibition of photography. Allow 60-90 minutes to fully explore this little gem.
Written 19 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimberly H
Louisville, KY24 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
My daughter and I went on a Sunday afternoon. I highly recommend a Sunday. The docents were exceptional- especially Chris- he was nice and delighted in sharing his knowledge of his favorite pieces as well as a little “magic”. Truly a lovely visit!
Written 6 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atl_travel74
Cincinnati, OH32 contributions
Dec 2019
The grounds are beautiful and the house and art work is wonderful. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They have free parking, which does fill up fast, but is really a plus. They have great programs. We were able to visit Santa and saw a penguin from Newport Aquarium all in the same visit.
Written 14 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the “free Sunday” program on Sundays, sponsored by ArtsWave? Is it every third Sunday of the month throughout the year?y
Written 5 June 2019
Taft Museum of Art
Cincinnati, Ohio
Sundays at the Taft Museum are open to the public free of charge thanks to the generosity of private donors.
The 3rd Sunday Funday program that you referenced is one of our many family friendly educational opportunities for families.
Written 27 June 2019
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