Cincinnati is a cornucopia of art and culture. Art Galleries, Museums, Classic Architecture, Wine Tours and Spas are plentiful, but there is another side to Cincinnati you don't want to miss. Take a walk on the wild side of Cincinnati which is rich in Civil War History, along with a step through the looking glass into the world of the infamous and the macabre, including the legacy of the underworld of prohibition gangsters. The dead may not be grateful, but they do exist in a paranormal dimension in the city where you can hunt down the haunted inhabitants Ghostbuster style. The city is vibrant with bustling streets and activities above ground, but Cincinnati also has an underground realm beneath her busy streets that you must explore where the past lives on and history is preserved. For urban spelunking it is a must see!
When you think of Civil War tours what probably comes to mind is the “fourscore and seven years ago” battle of Gettysburg, or Sherman's March to the Sea, but, Cincinnati stood it's ground and was a crucial crossroads during this, the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil.
While the troops battled and died in the north and the south, the port city of Cincinnati was a major source of supplies and troops for the Union, as well as a key location in the defense of the region, should Johnny Reb decide to make any incursions into the area and gain control of the river. If that would have happened, Cincinnatians would speak today with a southern drawl and eat grits for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It's a step back in time to the darkest hours of American History preserved as a legacy of freedom for future generations. Cincy was a major stop along the Underground Railroad where escaped slaves fled north for freedom. You can explore this unique facet of history at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, For information on tours and events at the center visit their website at freedomcenter.org
Cincinnati was quite the beer capital for decades when the Volstead Act kicked in. The citizens weren't quite ready to give up their brew, but, there were those ready to make sure that the beer would keep flowing like Niagara Falls. Booze, gambling and prostitution proliferated as bootlegging was in full swing. Today you can take a Gangster tour of Cincy and Newport to visit the buildings that served as speakeasies, brothels and gambling casinos, and to learn about the infamous gangsters that ruled the region in the days of Prohibition. If you think Capone's Chicago was wild, Cincinnati was a close second.
Throughout the decades Cincy exploded architecturally above ground with a plethora of wild drinking establishments, raucous theaters and breweries. Beneath the city streets are a myriad of tunnels that were part and parcel of the legacy of Cincinnati's beer makers, and there is also a hidden burial vault. It's a great excursion beneath the city streets and into the city's past. Think Geraldo and Capones vault! Your gateway to the underground is located in the Gateway District which is also home to shopping, arts and culture above ground. It' revitalization with a capital R. Check out all there is to do in the district at http://www.otrgateway.com
Then there are the ghosts. We love to scare ourselves to death. That is human nature so get ready for thrills more chilling then zombies in "The Night of the Living Dead" on a walking tour of ghosts straight out of Poltergeist. Ghost tales abound and some buildings purportedly are electric with ghost activity including Music Hall.
It's one of the most haunted places in Cincy. The Hall itself is not the flash point of spectral activity due to anything that has happened there, but the grounds it sits on are. At one time it was the site of the old insane asylum and an orphanage. Electro shock therapy and straight jackets have taken their toll and today it is said restless spirits roam the old Gothic Revival building. It's also a site where the bodies of the homeless and suicide victims have been found buried without the benefit a coffin!
Recent paranormal activity include pianos playing with no one at the keyboard and doors opening and closing by themselves. There's even a ghost of a young boy who tugs on your clothing as you walk by him! But for the living there is also a host of cultural events at the Hall so for a calendar of events visit their website at www.cincinnatiarts.org/musichall
All in all, Cincinnati Tours cover the cities history from the violence of the Civil War to the boozed up killings of the Gangster Era. There are numerous tour companies in the city so it is best to check with them regarding tours available, costs and times. One of the most prolific companies is American Legacy Tours at http://americanlegacytours.com.
You don't want to miss out on these delightful yet somewhat bizarre journeys into the past and the unknown as you travel through time in Cincinnati's past of Yankees, Rebels, Gangsters and ghosts.
Mike Marino is an author of four books, columnist and pop culture dumpster diver. You can see more of Mikes “Writer on the Storm” creations at https://www.angelfire.com/mi2/sfroad/page1022.html