Taft Museum of Art

I recommend if u want to go anywhere near this museum that u buy tickets way before u come. You can buy them on line but you have to have a printer to print the tickets which makes it difficult if you are staying at a hotel as it is a public computer and I didn’t want my cc information all over the web. Seems a little antiquated way to do business but the demand is high and the availability is low. Disappointed but will learn to lower my expectations

If one is interested in a hometown museum experience, then I recommend the Taft. It is a small converted historic home (Home of W.H. Taft’s half-​brother) that offers a quaint, beautiful art collection. I was fortunate to see a collection of Monet, Pissarro, Van Gogh and featured Daubigny. All for $ 5 on Sunday which is always free for the permanent collection, along with parking. What made my visit special was the staff. I was very impressed by the level of service. Starting with Kate, who ensured I had a table despite not having a reservation. I had the quiche and it was affordable and delicious. The waiter, Andy did a great job. I was very much impressed with Robyn who was working very hard and was extremely pleasant despite how busy she was. The rest of the staff, Andrea and Megan were all very friendly and welcoming. It was my first time there and you’d think it was the tenth. I will definitely stop by the next time I’m in Cincinnati. It’s a great place to spend a few hours and take in a little culture and hospitality. Thank you Taft team — Martin

I was so disappointed. I thought this was a museum about President Taft, yeah it wasn’t. President Taft family was very big into art and they turned the family home into a art museum. In my opinion, they use the Taft name to bring people. Wasted…

Maybe my expectations are the problem, but since it was the Taft home I expected some original furnishings and it to be somewhat home like? With the exception of a few settees and a donated dining room table, it wasn’t furnished at all. Also, let me also say upfront the Impressionists Gallery was what I was most excited to see, and it’s closed for renovations.
As others have said, the guards some somewhat intrusive. I don’t need to have you breathing down my back. And the art just mostly wasn’t my thing. I did enjoy the watches, but not the etchings. The Rembrandts were impressive as well, but again… not my thing.
They called a cab for us when we left cause the walk was further from the heart of downtown than we expected and we were ready to sit down. Cab never showed, so we ended up walking back anyway. Not the museum’s fault, but if I ever went back it would be in a car. I pretty much think this was a one shot deal in any case. Cincinnati has much better museums.

I love this museum. Its history, its collection, the docents — all are amazing. A while back they did an audio tour that I guess is not available any more that was a «highlights» tour that was so great because the highlights were described by their docents. Not curatorial experts but the folks who actually connect with visitors and who could share their relate-​able excitement and interest in the works of art they described. The café is exceptional as well. Tremendous staff and good food. They allow photos! I happy return to the Taft Museum of Art every time I am in Cincinnati.

I. Love. This. Museum.
It’s not very big, but don’t let that throw you off. Every work of art on display is amazing and the scale of the museum allows you to really appreciate each piece rather than dashing from room to room to try to see everything in a day. I love spending afternoons here just strolling from room to room, seeing something new in different pieces every time. The setting is an incredible old home (check out the history exhibit on the home) that has been tastefully turned into a museum. When you first walk in there is a café, gift shop (that’s a great place to look for a quirky gift for someone… or yourself, whatever, I won’t judge), and a garden area where the Taft offers concerts throughout the year (pro tip, the concerts are free, and amazing).
Okay, so onto the main attraction here, the art itself. There’s a pretty wide variety, everything from medieval painting and sculpture to incredible Limoges pieces to stunning pottery to Dutch portraiture to English landscapes to murals of the Ohio Valley landscape and more. The gallery has free admission on Sundays and offers children’s programs that look pretty cool (a group of kids was going from room to room answering questions on a scavenger hunt list the day I was there.)
I could go on and on gushing about how great this place is, but seriously, you should just go. It’s awesome.
Slight caveat for the near future: Due to construction on Lytle Park adjacent, some pieces are in storage for protection. Don’t worry, there’s still a ton to see.

Fascinating art collection. Through May 17^th, enjoy the «An Eye for the West» exhibit.

The Taft Museum of Art is yet another historical art gem in the city of Cincinnati!
One of the smallest museums in the country as this was the personal residence of Anna Sinton Taft and Charles Phelps Taft, after their deaths they donated their home and personal art collection to the people of Cincinnati. It reopened to the public in 2004 after extensive renovations and features Robert Duncanson murals in the museum foyer, which were discovered on the walls during the renovation, they were previously covered up & thankfully restored back to their original glory.
They have a special exhibition room on the second floor, which has had a variety of photography exhibitions over the past few years, right now is Paris Night & Day, Iconic photographs.
Stop by on your lunch hour if you work downtown or enjoy their free Sundays to enjoy this Cincinnati classic.

A pleasant and nice historic house with a great collection. However, it could be better. The security guards are constantly trolling. Even at the great museums of the world, in various cities, security guards aren’t as thick as they are here. It distracts from the art and exhibits. The other big art museum in town has a totally different feel from this location and you feel more welcome there. Friendlier greeters and less security hounds, promoting a warmer and easier atmosphere, would go a long way.

This is a great place to visit with or without kids. There is no admission fee on Sundays, so expect the place to be busy if you decide to save a little cash. The Paris photography exhibit that is on display now is remarkable. We took our time enjoying that exhibit, watched an entertaining magician perform, and then called it a day due to the crowd. I plan to return on a day of the week that is less likely to be slammed, as I like to take my time reading about and admiring art.

Cute small museum. Sundays are free, what a treat. Worth going especially to see the «Cobbler’s apprentice». The patio of the museum café is heavenly for a coffee break.

The Taft Museum is a gorgeous gem in the Queen Cities Crown. This historic home once belonging to the Taft Family (yes, President Tafts relatives) has been restored and elevated to a world class art musuem. My first time here was on a date and I can’t imagine a more perfect place to go. Big tip: the museum is FREE on Sunday, every Sunday! Oh, and all the traveling exhibits that go through are free as well! The museums permanent family collection is a vibrant collection of art work the family bought an acquired throughout their travels and has a heavy Asian influence. Another great tip is to talk to the docents that volunteer and love to walk you through the collection. My first visit I was amazing not only because of the free tour but also how much fun we had learning little bits about different pieces. My favorite but f news was about the naughty Dutch paintings in the collection and the Stories behind each one. I don’t want to ruin the surprises but they are something to check out when you visit! Did I mention that they also have a giant Renior that has a sister painting at the Met in NYC. No matter if you want to stroll out back through the gardens, check out world class paintings or learn a little more about local Cincy history, this is the spot for you!

The Taft Museum is located in part within a historic home, which means that each room in and of itself is an impressive work of art. It has been restored beautifully. There is a café with a lovely patio, a gallery shop, and a special exhibit gallery.
The Taft collection has a range of items, including a number of Chinese porcelains, a watch room, and Limoges enamels. There are large murals painted directly on the walls near the front entrance of the home. More well-​known artists whose work is featured includes John Singer Sargent, Whistler, Duveneck, Goya, Gainsborough, and Rembrandt.
Special exhibits rotate throughout the year. On my recent visit, it was «Threads of Heaven: Silken Legacy of China’s Last Dynasty,» and featured some wonderful robes, accessories, and textiles that illustrated the history and cultures that influenced the creation of the silk items.
The museum has free parking in a garage around back, and admission is free on Sundays.

This is an excellent museum, not just because of the art work on display, but also because the building itself is a work of art! Staff are super knowledge and friendly, and I can easily spend hours here on a rainy day, going from room to room. The little café on site also is an excellent stop for a snack or a small meal.

We went here last night for a Unilocal event. I went as a guest of my daughter. It was our first time to the museum and will definitely go back. They are having a special photographic display of Deguerreotypes from Kansas City. Interesting and beautiful. We took a docent-​guided tour which was very informative. They also had short lectures on the subject, as well as an Art Cart with a gentleman explaining the archaic photographic process. They also had a docent led architecture tour. Didn’t have time for that, but considering the beautiful home we will be back for it! In addition, since Unilocal was holding this event, they had food and drinks under a canopy in the courtyard. Food was prepared by the executive chef at the Taft and was very yummy! Overall a very nice experience and will be back!

I love this little gem of a historic home and art museum in one. Special exhibits keep it interesting and the ones I’ve attended have always been well curated and diverse. The home itself is a work of architectural art and I love seeing the art in this setting. The murals in the front hall are not to be missed and I love the pastoral paintings in the dining room as well.
Parking is free for museum patrons (serious bonus for the downtown location) and entrance is free for all on Sundays (student/​senior discounts available on other days). A guaranteed lovely afternoon is brunch (served on Sunday only) or lunch on the outdoor patio of the Lindner Family café followed by a leisurely perusal of the museum with friends.

My fiancé and I were excited about having our wedding at the Taft and decided not to because of Kitty Paschall. She is the manager of facility rentals and manages the entire process if you have a wedding or event here. She is disrespectful and crass with a poor work etiquette. She is so comfortable in knowing how sought after the Taft is as an event venue, that she doesn’t care about appeasing clients or being helpful in the wedding planning process. She often complained about having to come in to work and didn’t want to do more than what is absolutely necessary. She complained to me about another bride who had asked her to set out a few centerpieces since they didn’t have a professional florist. This post is to hopefully alert others to the type of «customer service» you’ll receive when hosting an event here.

A hidden architectural and artistic treasure tucked away in an eastern part of downtown. I’ve attended a few art exhibits here and really enjoy the history of the place as well as the great art that is displayed in this museum. I think the TMA is often confused with the Taft Theatre
which is a cool place but certainly not a museum.
Check their website
or give them a call to see if there is a special exhibit or event. I first found out about this place because they had some kind of free photography exhibition. Currently, they are displaying the glamour photography of Edward Steichen. His photos graced the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair. You might recognize some of the celebrities.
The TAM would be a nice place to have a wedding reception or «fancy» party. The courtyard is pleasant and large enough to hold a large amount of people.
Oh, the gift shop has a few items for that person on your list who has everything or you are just looking for something unique and possibly Cincinnati themed.

The Taft Museum of Art has a special place in my heart. Growing up I was very interested in Art and my art teacher told me that the Taft had summer programs that were very hands on and would be perfect for me. So I enrolled and so began my love affair!
The museum itself is actually a house therefore all the character, history, and the nostalgia just comes with it unlike other places. The outside is always perfectly landscaped, the even have a luscious beautiful garden out back. The volunteers are crazy informative and very helpful as well.
One of my favorite exhibits I have seen there were the antique clock watches. You know the old funny ones you put in your pocket? They were absolute stunning to look at and there were rows and rows of them from all over the world and ranging from different time periods. Once we walked through the exhibit our summer camp leader then created a craft for us where we made our own clock watches and it was SO neat!
If you are wanting to actually feel like you are apart of history rather than looking at history I suggest this museum, it has a totally different feel from all the others!

Determined to enjoy all our great City has to offer during the Holidays, we spent yesterday afternoon at the Taft Museum of Art. After lunch and shopping, the museum was a welcome respite from the crowds. Parking is free and easily-​accessible.
The exhibits of antique Christmas decorations are fascinating, and the architecture of the house always breathtaking. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, this is a unique display of Americana worth seeing.