Cincinnati Observatory
The larger Herget building, the Clark telescope and the museum spaces are closed for renovation; the goal is to reopen the Herget building in summer 2027. The Mitchel building and some programs continue.
Historic public observatory in Cincinnati. Its main building and big telescope are closed for renovation until about summer 2027, but ticketed programs such as a guided Planet Walk continue.
Ways to visit
Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups) Open
Telescope and museum buildings are closed; only the scheduled events are available. Some events are held off site.
- What you see
- Groundscincinnatiobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- How
- Scheduled tour · about 60 minutescincinnatiobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- When
- Dated events listed on the events page, for example a guided Planet Walk tour on 2026-10-28 from noon to 1 p.m. and a sky class on 2026-10-27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.Calendar ↗cincinnatiobservatory.org, 2026-10-26 · cincinnatiobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Booking
- Not stated · onlineEvent pages link to online registration; the Planet Walk and the pop-up planetarium both say walk-ins are welcome.Book (Cincinnati Observatory) ↗cincinnatiobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Cost
- PaidPlanet Walk, non-member: $10 · Planet Walk, kids: $5 · Sky class, non-member: $25 · Sky class, student with valid ID: $10Members pay less or nothing for some events. Prices differ per event.cincinnatiobservatory.org, 2026-10-26
- Requirements
- Fitness and accessibility: Yes. The Planet Walk is on grassy, slightly uneven ground, not suitable for most strollers or wheelchairs.
About
The Cincinnati Observatory describes itself as the country's oldest observatory and normally offers tours and nighttime telescope programs. A renovation has closed the Herget building, the Clark telescope and the museum spaces, with reopening aimed at summer 2027. During the work it runs classes, a guided Planet Walk and other events, some at the observatory and some off site, so each event page should be checked for its location. Prices on the events page range from $5 to $25.
Run by: Cincinnati Observatory Center.
Getting there
3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH, 45208
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (39.13861, -84.42278). Apple Maps directions go to the street address instead. Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Cincinnati Observatory: 513.321.5186 · info@cincinnatiobservatory.org
Last checked 2026-10-26. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- cincinnatiobservatory.org · official page · read 2026-10-26For: name; street address; phone and email
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q3348… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: location
- cincinnatiobservatory.org/visit/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: who runs it; Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): open or closed
- cincinnatiobservatory.org/events/all-events-and-programs/ · official page · read 2026-10-26For: Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): what you see; Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): kind of visit; Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): days and hours; Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): booking; Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): cost; Public programs during renovation (Planet Walk tour, sky classes, pop-ups): requirements
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