When I first moved to Cincinnati, I worked downtown for a contract research organization, Kendle International. The company had offices on several floors of the Carew Tower, a beautiful high-rise on Vine Street. I quickly learned that my workplace was, at the time, the tallest building in Cincinnati’s skyline and one of the most historical within the city.
Arriving each day by public transportation, the bus would drop me off outside of the Omni Netherland Plaza (now the Cincinnati Hilton Netherland Plaza) . Entering the revolving doors, I strolled through the large lobby passing several stores before reaching the concierge desk. Taking a right, the second set of elevators would take me up to the 9th floor where I worked in the marketing department. To gain entry, I would need to use my key card to enter through the security doors.
Lunch was always the exciting part of the day where we could stay within the confines of the tower with various dining and shopping options. On the ground floor, a large exhibit of photos displayed the detailed history of Carew Tower. Designed by Chicago architects W.W. Ahlschlager & Associates in the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne style, the Tower is the tallest building in downtown Cincinnati standing 49 stories and 574 feet tall. Built of brick and steel, it was intended to emulate the Rockefeller Center of New York and took one thousand men working around the clock to build this skyscraper in record time.
Construction began on January 8th, 1930 and was completed on July 7th of the same year. This world record has yet to be broken. It was also the first downtown Cincinnati office building to have an electronic push button elevator.
Carew Tower is comprised of two separate buildings that connect the Carew Tower Office Complex to the nearby Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. Lavishly decorated in Art Deco decor, this beautiful hotel offers a “Hall of Mirrors” for wedding receptions, festive events and exquisite banquets, very Versailles-esque in its decoration. Known as the place to stay in Cincinnati, the hotel hosted a long list of A-listers to include Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby, John and Jackie Kennedy, Elvis Presley and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Indoor walkways once passed over outdoor streets bridging workplaces with some of the finest shopping in town. TJ Maxx was one of my favorite stores that took up two stories of retail space. You could also find such clothing shops as Casual Corner and Express to find business and casual clothing for work.
Beautifully decorated in art deco decor, the Carew Tower once supported 1,383,000 gross square feet of retail and shopping space. On the first floor was long-time tenant Hathaway’s Diner, which was a great place to visit for a quick lunch. The basement was occupied by a fitness center and Paragon Hair salon while the upper floors drew tourists to its impressive Observation Deck on the 49th floor.
The ground elevators reach the 45th floor with a separate small elevator continuing to the top. I remember how I would take the ride to the observation deck during a break from work to enjoy the spectacular views on a clear, sunny day.
With its 4 million bricks, 5000 doors and 8000 windows, I was proud to work at Carew Tower. Somehow, I felt more connected to Cincinnati working in the midst of the city’s hustle and bustle. The kiosk directory, located next to the concierge desk, listed some of the finest businesses in the city.
On a recent visit to Carew Tower, I noticed so many things had changed. Hathaway’s Diner had moved, the shops that were once bustling during the weekdays had been closed and the Observation Deck had currently suspended elevator service to the top. I had even learned that one of the last original tenants was moving out in a couple of months which only seemed to confirm the difference from when Carew Tower was my home away from home and where I had made so many great memories.
The Concierge was still at the desk when I had last visited, but he mentioned that there were plans to make this spectacular tower an apartment community. His last day was the following Friday, so I wished him well and hoped that he would return once the renovations had been completed.
Have you visited Carew Tower? I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my time at Carew Tower and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Carew Tower
441 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 579 9735
- Admission Fee: $6 per person for guests ages 12 and up; $3 for children ages 6 – 11 and free for children ages 5 and under. Cash only.
- Hours: Observation Deck Hours: Open Monday through Tuesday from 9AM to 5:30PM, Friday from 9AM to 6PM, Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 7PM.
- Amenities: Nearby shopping and retail
- Tips for Your Visit: Call ahead of time to ensure that the observation deck is open.
Where to Stay:
Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
35 West Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 421 9100
Where to Eat:
Hathaway’s Diner
25 West 5th Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 621 1332
Serving downtown Cincinnati since 1956.
More of My Favorite Places to Eat:
- Skyline Chili: My go-to meal at Skyline is the 4-way chili with onion served with oyster crackers and hot sauce. I always pick up two York peppermint patties after cashing out. Cincinnati chili is a beef based sauce served over spaghetti noodles and cheese. Additional toppings include onions and beans.
- LaRosa’s Pizza: A local chain pizzeria, this Sicilian style pie is made with a sweet crust and sauce. My favorite menu item is the Caprese pesto Flatbread Pizza.
- Graeter’s Ice Cream: It’s the French Pot process that makes Graeter’s Ice Cream so decadent and rich. Towards the end of the process, they pour chocolate into the mix creating large chunks of yummy goodness.
- Montgomery Inn BBQ: Visiting the original Montgomery Inn BBQ at the boathouse is a culinary and scenic experience. Their ribs are served with a sweet and tangy sauce that has since made them the “Ribs King” and a favorite among locals. Load up on their amazing BBQ flavored Saratoga chips,
- Glier’s Goetta: While it looks like a slab of corn beef hash, this breakfast staple is made of sausage and oats, cooked until crispy. Most breakfast restaurants carry it as a side, especially the local cafes and diners.
- BonBonerie: One of the most decadent pastry shops in Cincinnati, their rich confections are absolutely amazing.
Where to Drink:
Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 421 2337
Books to Read:
- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld
- Running, by J.T. Cooper
- Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison
- Beloved, by Toni Morrison
- Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper
- Romiette and Julio, by Sharon M. Draper
Photo Guide for Cincinnati (as provided by Chris Thompson on FourSquare):
- The John A Roebling Suspension Bridge
- Pick a spot near the Covington pier and shoot north toward the Cincinnati skyline. Shoot at sunset and underexpose by a few stops to get the lights just right.
- The new lights on the bridge create excellent stars when you photograph them using a narrow aperture (~f/16 and above) on your camera. That means you’ll need a longer exposure (and thus a tripod).
- General James Taylor Park
- Shoot from the top of the flag pole mound to get more building reflections in your shot. Shoot at sunset or sunrise for great lighting.
- Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
- Arrive first thing in the morning when the sun is coming up
- The Fountain at Fountain Square
- For great photos of the fountain: set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (2-5 seconds) to capture the running water. Get Carew or the colored lights above Rock Bottom in the background.
- Fountain Square (look for reflections in puddles)
- Celestial Restaurant in Mount Adams – The restaurant is now closed, but you may still be able to use the parking lot.
- Carew Tower Observation Deck
- Provides some neat photos of the highways snaking around the city. Set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure to get moving car trails. It’s only open at sunset a few days each year.
- Engine Company 46, 2733 Erie Avenue (at Michigan), Cincinnati
- One of the most beautiful historic firehouses in all of Cincinnati. The firefighters here are used to having their photo taken while they work. Ask nicely and you can get some cool shots.
- Cincinnati Observatory Center
- Krohn Conservatory
- Great American Ball Park
- Shoot the front of the stadium around sunset to get a nice color blue in the sky. Get one of the player statues in your shot for extra effect.
- Devou Park
- The overlook next to the Drees pavilion affords a great view of the Cincinnati skyline. Shoot at sunrise or sunset for the best lighting. Underexpose slightly to get the city lights just right.
- Newport Central Catholic for fireworks
- Shoot the Riverfest fireworks from this location. Bring a long lens and a tripod. You’ll want a long-ish exposure (5-10 seconds) to capture the bursts, but make sure the skyline isn’t overexposed.
- Riverfront Park
- The colorful fountains make a great subject, but you need to use a relatively fast shutter speed (>1/20 or so) to catch the lights before they change color, leaving your pic with plain white lights.
- American Sign Museum
- Be sure to bring a tripod to capture all the signs. Manual white balance is the way to go, because there are so many crazy colors of lights that your camera won’t know how to react.
