A Bold New Chapter for Cincinnati Museum Center

Introducing The Vontz Family Research, Education & Collections Center

Summer 2024, Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) took a bold step in preserving the region’s heritage by acquiring a 200,000 sq ft site near Union Terminal—the former Heidelberg Distributing facility on Dalton Ave. To ensure the future of our region’s shared history and scientific discovery, we are creating a centralized home for our world-class collections known as The Vontz Family Research, Education & Collections Center. This site will bring together collections currently housed across multiple locations—including the Geier Collections & Research Center—into one cohesive, modern campus.

This is more than a building—it’s a launchpad for ideas, connections and discoveries that will shape generations.

Why This Matters

Every object tells a story—of who we are, where we’ve been and what we’re still discovering. CMC’s collection of over 6 million artifacts and specimens is one of the most significant in the country and it's growing every year. The Vontz Family Research, Education & Collections Center will provide a purpose-built space to:

Preserve the past: From 400-million-year-old Ordovician fossils to one of the world’s only great auk specimens, these irreplaceable items will be housed in climate-controlled spaces built to protect them for generations.

Unlock access: Scholars, students and the public will be able to explore rare materials like a Holt Broadside from July 1776 and portraits by renowned Black photographer J.P. Ball.

Support global research: Each year, our collections serve over 1,000 in‑person research visits, 8,000+ digital searches and countless loans to institutions worldwide to fuel new discoveries—from biodiversity to civil rights history.

Inspire young minds: Through school visits, tours and hands-on programming, we’re turning curiosity into lifelong learning and encouraging the next generation of scientists, historians and changemakers.

The Vontz Family Research, Education & Collections Center will tell the story of Cincinnati and the natural world—not just for today, but for generations to come. And as the project progresses, CMC will continue fundraising toward its $45 million goal.