Cincinnati Art Museum

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The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. It was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies. Although popularly cited as the Art Palace of the West no documentation prior to 1981 can be found to verify this claim. Still, its collection of over 60,000 works make it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Midwest.

The CAM was founded in 1881. Museum founders debated the locating the museum in either Burnett Woods, Eden Park, or downtown Cincinnati on Washington Square. Charles West, the major donor of the early museum, cast his votes in favor of Eden Park thus sealing its final location. The Romanseque-revival building designed by Cincinnati architect James McLaughlin opened in 1886. A series of additions and renovations have considerably altered the building over its 120 year history.

In May of 2003 the General Admission fees were eliminated. Admission is still charged for special travelling exhibits.