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Cincinnati Children's Museum Reopens Friday

Tana Weingartner
/
WVXU
The fencing that has kept visitors away from the front plaza of Union Terminal is now gone.

The grand reopening is still a few weeks away, but the Cincinnati Children's Museum and special exhibits hall reopen Friday. Both were closed along with the rest of the museum on Oct. 22 so crews working onthe Union Terminal restoration could run final systems tests and complete inspections.Turner Construction Senior Project Manager Steve Swisher says visitors can expect an open plaza area with driveway access to the front doors.

"They'll walk in the front door Friday and see the moveable partitions that have been there the last several weeks since the temporary lobby came down," he says. "Then they'll go downstairs to the children's space or the traveling exhibits." 

On the way in, visitors can seethe rebuilt fountain with its new green terrazzo, though the water isn't running.

"The fountain has been winterized with the weather conditions that are now upon us," Swisher says.

Inside, you can glimpse the brightly lit rotunda and sparkling clean murals that shine under the enhanced lighting.

The Cincinnati Museum Center was granted its Certificate of Occupancy Thursday, meaning employees can start moving back into the facility and re-installing the exhibits.

The grand reopening is set for Nov. 17. At that time visitors will be able to tour the new Dinosaur Hall, Public Landing, and the Duke Energy Holiday Trains exhibits.

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.