It began as a search for a new home by Cincinnati's Museum of Natural History and culminated in what is now being rated as one of the nation's most frequently visited centers of tourism - the Museum Center at Cincinnati Union Terminal. Not only has the creation of the Museum Center returned a beloved architectural and historical landmark to prominence, but it has also provided a distinctive and dynamic new home for two of that city's venerable cultural institutions, the Cincinnati Historical Society and the Museum of Natural History. What was originally viewed as an extraordinarily ambitious and somewhat risky endeavor, involving two dissimilar organizations and a unique physical space, has proven to be one of the city's most notable achievements. In its first full year of operation, the Museum Center was already attracting over 1.2 million visitors, surpassing all projections.

What Made It Happen?

Local citizens approved a $33.7 million bond levy for the creation of a Museum Center in the city's former train station. An art deco architectural monument, the station had defied various attempts at conversion and revival, yet was still valued as an historical treasure to which no one could conceive of applying the wrecking ball. With funding commitments from the bond levy and the State of Ohio in hand, trustees of the Museum of Natural History and the Historical Society then retained Skystone Ryan to study the feasibility of raising an additional $10 million in private gifts necessary to operate and endow the museum building.

Following encouraging study results, the firm was retained as fundraising counsel for a capital campaign which quickly exceeded its $10 million goal, raising more than $12 million. Like the Museum Center it helped to create, the Union Terminal Trust Fund campaign made history as one of the most successful appeals of its kind ever attempted in the Greater Cincinnati area. This campaign experience vividly illustrated the value of organizing and motivating a strong force of volunteers who had the influence and willingness to assume leadership positions and actively work to solicit exemplary gifts from other community leaders, corporations and foundations.