Cincinnati Music Hall, Netherland Hilton, Cincinnati Observatory

Date: Monday, March 18

Cost (includes lunch): $57 Member | $71 Non-Member

Back by popular demand, we’re repeating this tour for those left out last semester. Based on reviews, we’ve added a tour of Netherland Hilton, where we’ll also be dining for lunch.

For nearly two centuries, Cincinnati has been referred to as The Queen City or The Queen of the West. Its grand stature and beauty can be tied to one of the most admired architects in Cincinnati history, Samuel Hannaford, who designed some of the best-known landmarks in our city, such as Music Hall and City Hall. The bulk of his life’s work, over 300 buildings, was in the tristate region. His reputation has endured along with his buildings, and we’re proud to show off a few of his gems interspersed with those of his peers.

Built in 1878 and designated a National Historic Landmark, Cincinnati’s Music Hall is among the city’s most recognizable buildings. Impressive from the outside for its variously labeled Victorian Gothic or Romanesque architecture, it’s arguably more remarkable on the inside. Following a lengthy closure for extensive renovations during 2016-17, Music Hall reopened and has reestablished itself as Cincinnati’s premiere concert venue and an integral part of the vibrant Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Our tour goes backstage and beyond with a trip through a variety of private and public spaces and a walk through Cincinnati history.

Lunch finds us at one of the treasures of Cincinnati, the historic Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. The hotel is a true French Art Deco masterpiece and the city’s crown jewel. The historic hotel’s main lobby and mezzanine areas feature a half acre of rare Brazilian rosewood, extensive use of German silver, and a stylized Egyptian decor reinforced with delicate floral motifs. There are also exquisitely detailed frescoes, ceiling murals, an original Rookwood fountain with a pair of matching seahorses, and the refined Restaurants at Palm Court, which includes Orchids at Palm Court, Ohio’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant. Our tour will take us to the renowned Hall of Mirrors, modeled after the Palace of Versailles in Paris; the Continental Room, with striking floor-to-ceiling windows, gorgeous chandeliers, and amazing frescoes of the four seasons; and the Pavillion Ballroom, originally the hotel’s nightclub modeled after Club Leviathan on the famous ocean liner, the S.S. Leviathan.

The Cincinnati Observatory is tucked away at the end of a picturesque cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood, one of two buildings from a different era. When you drive up the narrow, tree-lined street past grand Victorian homes, you’ll feel the history in your bones as you catch sight at the end of the street of another Samuel Hannaford icon—a picturesque jewel-box of a building, capped by a silver dome.

Known as The Birthplace of American Astronomy, the Cincinnati Observatory houses one of the oldest working telescopes and was the first public observatory in the western hemisphere. Recently restored to its original beauty, The Observatory is a fully functioning 19thcentury observatory used daily by the public and amateur astronomers. The main telescopes are an 11-inch Merz and Mahler refractor purchased in 1842 and a 16-inch Alvan Clark and Sons refractor from 1904. The historic buildings are designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the grounds provide a serene, park-like setting while still being centrally located in the city of Cincinnati.

This tour will prove to be a shutterbug’s delight.

NOTE: New Oxford bus pick-up location. Ditmer parking lot is located at 4945 Oxford Trenton Road (Route 73) across from the equestrian center. This tour involves periods of standing and walking at a leisurely pace through museums and hotel. All areas are handicap accessible with the exception of the domes in both of The Observatory buildings. One has five steps, the other has 26 steps.

Lunch (choose one):

• Croque Monsieur (French ham & cheese sandwich w/ fries)
• Palm Court Burger & Fries
• Potato Gnocci w/ Marinara

Meal includes salad, drinks, and dessert

Schedule:

8:00am | Assemble at SE corner of Dimer parking lot for first pick-up

8:15am | Depart Oxford

8:45am | Assemble at VOALC in West Chester for second pick-up

9:00am | Depart VOALC

9:45am | Music Hall

11:30am | Lunch & tour of Netherland Hilton

1:30pm | Cincinnati Observatory

4:00pm | Return to VOALC

5:00pm | Return to Oxford

Union Terminal, Holocaust & Humanity Center, American Sign Museum

Date: Monday, March 25

Cost (excludes lunch): $48 Member | $60 Non-Member

Designed to accommodate 17,000 passengers and 216 trains a day, Union Terminal—one of the last great American train stations built—is a Cincinnati icon and one of the most widely regarded examples of the art deco style. Since its opening in 1933, Union Terminal has had a long and storied history, from welcoming soldiers home from World War II to becoming the home for a one-of-a-kind, multi-museum center. After more than two years and $228 million in renovations, this prominent city landmark is once again welcoming guests. After you pick your jaw up off the floor while admiring the largest half-dome in the Western Hemisphere, spend some time studying the intricate details of the gleaming Winold Reiss mosaics. Choose from either a private, guided rotunda tour or take in the current OMNIMAX® movie.

Along with a completely rebuilt fountain to greet you outside, a more stable infrastructure, and gleaming mosaic murals to awe you inside the rotunda, a new tenant has just opened its doors. The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) is dedicated to preserving and sharing stories of Holocaust survivors while honoring and remembering those who were lost.

The HHC tells a Cincinnati story of efforts to make this city a haven for refugees and of the city’s national leadership in rescue efforts. It seeks to honor American liberators who brought Nazi Germany and its tyranny to an end, who entered the camps and provided aid and comfort to the survivors. Above all, it tells the story of survivors who rebuilt their lives in freedom in Cincinnati. These survivors became symbols of resilience, voices of conscience, and moral teachers to a generation in profound need of their testimony and their example. They bore witness to what they had endured, not merely to remember the past but to transform the future. NOTE: For more on the Holocaust, see Midday Lecture Series’ Behind the Scenes of History lecture on page 15 and Alan deCourcy’s Voices from the Holocaust course on page 21.

Our group will dine together at Union Terminal. You are welcome to bring a sack lunch or purchase any of the various food options available on site. Options include soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizza. Prices range from $5-$9. Either way, dessert at the rotunda’s Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor is a “don’t miss it” recommendation.

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign,” song lyrics made popular by the 1970s’ one-hit-wonder, ask if you have ever really noticed the signs around you. Signs not only provide light to show us the way and invite us in or lead us out; they reflect the history, technology, commerce, and culture of our communities. Dedicated to the art and history of signs and sign making, the American Sign Museum is proud to be the largest public museum dedicated to signs in the United States. Covering more than 100 years of American sign history, the museum is a walk through the ages of sign technologies and designs. Preserving and protecting American history while paying homage to the artistry and craftsmanship of days gone by, the collection honors an often overlooked part of our culture that hides in plain sight as part of our daily lives. The museum will open exclusively for our group for a self-guided experience.

NOTE: New Oxford bus pick-up location. Ditmer parking lot is located at 4945 Oxford-Trenton Road (Route 73) across from the equestrian center. This is a walking tour. This tour involves periods of standing and walking at a leisurely pace through museums. All areas are handicap accessible.

First Tour (choose one):

• Private Rotunda Tour
• OMNIMAX Documentary

Schedule:

8:15am | Assemble at SE corner of Ditmer parking lot for first pick-up

8:30am | Depart Oxford

9:00am | Assemble at VOALC in West Chester for second pick-up

9:15am | Depart VOALC

9:45am | Union Terminal

11:00am | Holocaust & Humanity Center

12:30pm | Lunch

2:00pm | American Sign Museum

4:30pm | Return to VOALC

5:30pm | Return to Oxford

German Village Historic District, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, Honda of America Manufacturing & Heritage Center

Date: Tuesday, May 7

Cost (includes lunch): $60 Member | $75 Non-Member

A highway bridge over Interstate 70 is all that separates the German Village Historic District from downtown Columbus, but the difference between old and new is glaring. In German Village, no structure is higher than three stories. Structures and sidewalks are orange masonry, and many streets (about half) are still brick pavers. German Village does not have a recreated sense of history or kitschy Bavarian feel—rather, it is a neighborhood with architecture dating from the 1840s-1890s that has been preserved, and its use as a shared residential and commercial neighborhood has been maintained. People walk to their destinations and live life at a very pedestrian level. The neighborhood is extremely dense—very often only inches separate neighboring structures, many that were built for multi-family use. German Village is notably different because its appearance has changed so little. We’ll explore the charms of the village on foot with a local guide, traipsing the same bricks that hold so many generations’ secrets.

To literally taste what brings travelers from near and far to this Columbus gem, we’ll enjoy an authentic German buffet at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, a fourth generation, family-owned restaurant in the heart of Historic German Village.

What began as a handshake between Soichiro Honda and Ohio Governor James Rhodes in 1977 has grown into an Ohio operation of global stature and influence. Today, Honda of America’s operations include four state-of-the-art plants here in Ohio, employing nearly 9,500 people and contributing millions of dollars to the Ohio economy every year. Fueled by the Power of Dreams, Honda continues to rank as the world’s most innovative mobility company. A guided auto plant tour will allow you to see its manufacturing firsthand. After the plant tour, your visit will move to the Honda Heritage Center™. The Center highlights the company’s successes in North America over the last half century with an array of historical, current and future products—each with its own story.

NOTE: New Oxford bus pick-up location. Ditmer parking lot is located at 4945 Oxford-Trenton Road (Route 73) across from the equestrian center. This is a walking tour. Streets and sidewalks in German Village are brick and uneven. We’ll walk at a moderate pace, covering approximately 1 mile. The Auto Plant tour includes a fast-paced, one-hour walking tour, covers approximately 1½ miles and may include stairs. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Sandals, open-toe, and open-back shoes are prohibited. Shorts must be knee length or longer for plant tour. You will need a government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.) for check-in upon arrival. The Honda Heritage Center reserves the right to suspend auto plant tours based on the plant’s production activity. If a suspension occurs, ILR will make every effort to schedule an alternate date.

7:15am | Assemble at SE corner of Ditmer parking lot for first pick-up
7:30am | Depart Oxford
8:00am | Assemble at VOALC in West Chester for second pick-up
8:15am | Depart VOALC
10:00am | German Village
11:00am | Lunch @ Schmidts
12:45pm | Honda Manufacturing
5:00pm | Return to West Chester
6:00pm | Return to Oxford

Date: Friday, April 5; 1:00–3:00pm

Location: Fairfield Community Arts Center, Room C

Cost: Free for Member and Non-Member

A short demonstration by Scott Johnston, who has taught beginning watercolor courses for over 20 years, will be followed by a hands-on watercolor exercise that will give participants an appreciation for how accessible and unintimidating the medium can be once you understand a few basic principles and the many ways pigments can be applied to paper. He will also discuss the Artist Immersion Program (AIP), which offers a range of classes for all levels of artists. This coming year AIP will travel to Italy, France, Japan, Hawaii, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. No supplies are necessary for the planned exercise; but if you already have watercolor brushes, paint, and other supplies, please bring them. For more information on AIP classes go to: artistimmersionprogram.com.

Date: Friday, May 10; 2:00–3:30pm

Location: Knolls of Oxford Commons, Auditorium

Cost: $6 Member | $7.50 Non-Member

Back by popular demand! We’ll “lick” our end-of-year business via this abbreviated board meeting and allow you to vote for and get the “scoop” on your new Board of Directors. There’s nothing like a little Graeter’s ice cream on a warm, springtime afternoon. Create your own sundae from some award-winning flavors.

Date: Saturday, May 4; 10:00am–noon

Location: Whitewater Memorial State Park, 1418 S State Road 101, Liberty, IN 47353

Cost: $10 for Member and Non-Member for photo frame; payable at class

Supplies: any type camera, writing pad or audio recorder

NOTE: Carpooling recommended. Vehicle entrance fee to park: OH/IN - $9/7

Enjoy a contemplative walk along the Memorial Loop Trail at Whitewater Memorial State Park and creatively express your experience through mindful photography and reflective writing. Participants can select one of their nature photos and text to be included in an exhibit and a book. NOTE: Memorial Loop trail is rated as moderate walking difficulty.

Instructors: Sean Yates has been a nature photographer for more than 20 years, featuring rural and urban natural environments throughout the Midwest, East Coast, and Tunisia. Frances Yates is an educator and project coordinator for programs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.