Hamilton County Memorial Building

The Hamilton County Memorial Building, more commonly called Memorial Hall OTR, is located at Elm & Grant Streets, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The building is next to Cincinnati's Music Hall and across from Washington Park in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. It was built by the Grand Army of the Republic and Hamilton County in 1908, as a memorial to the military of the city and county. The building was built in the Beaux-Arts style. The building, including the Annie W and Elizabeth M Anderson Theater, is used for 300+ events per year.

Hamilton County Memorial Building
LocationElm and Grant Sts., Cincinnati, Ohio
Coordinates39°6′31″N 84°31′6″W
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1908
ArchitectSamuel Hannaford & Sons
Clement Barnhorn, sculptor
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.78002076[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 4, 1978

Constructed according to a design by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the Memorial Building was intended to commemorate members of all branches of the U.S. armed services, as well as the pioneers who had established the United States.[2] The hall contains a 556-seat theater that was designed for speaking, but is also used as a venue for concerts, film screenings and theatrical events.[3] The theater's small size produces a sense of intimacy among the audience, and its acoustics are exceptional: words spoken on stage in a normal voice can easily be understood even at the back of the balcony.[2]

In late 1978, the Memorial Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying for inclusion both because of its architecture and because of its place in the area's history.[1] Its location on Washington Park places it in the historic district that embraces most of Over-the-Rhine,[4] which was added to the Register five years after the Memorial Building was individually added.[1]

An $11 million renovation to the building was completed in December 2016 and allowed for the preservation of its historic character. Additionally, extensive improvements have been made to increase audience and performer comfort, modernize amenities, and enhance performances. The renovations include new, larger restroom facilities, a new HVAC system to accommodate year-round events, new and more comfortable seating, the addition of a contemporary catering kitchen and backstage crossover space for performers. Lastly, the acquisition of new equipment, audio/visual components, and technology to ensure the best possible event experience.[5]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Owen, Lorrie K., ed. Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 1. St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 609.
  3. MetroMix, Memorial Hall Cincinnati. Accessed on 2009-08-18.
  4. National Register District Address Finder Archived 2013-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Ohio Historical Society, 2010. Accessed 2010-10-04.
  5. "Memorial Hall gets its second act". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
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