Cincinnati Observatory Makes $3 Million Renovation to Historic Building

After nearly two centuries of existence, the historic Cincinnati Observatory looks to the future with a renovation of its Herget Building set to be completed by summer 2027. The project aims to expand this 183-year-old building’s capacity and finish the basement of the larger of the two buildings on the observatory campus. The Herget Building has not been renovated since the 90s, and the new renovations are being made to preserve and expand the use of the Cincinnati Observatory, which was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. 

“The observatory’s Herget Building — named in honor of former director Dr. Paul Herget — is an iconic structure that has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors, and this renovation will allow for even more learning and enrichment for visitors of all ages,” Cincinnati Observatory executive director Anna Hehman said in a July 6, press release.

 More than $3 million will be invested in the project. Along with the physical renovation, the comprehensive campaign also includes adding two new educational programs positions that will help with the creation of exhibits and programs to improve observatory outreach. It currently oversees educational programs that serve around 14,000 students and over 35,000 visitors each year. The observatory is now seeking ways to expand its educational experiences and curriculum while making the observatory a hub for hands-on learning and free astronomy and space-engineering programs.

 “We continue to see an increase in programming requests from our partners, as well as requests for additional visits and opportunities for students,” Hehman said in the press release. “While we cannot currently accommodate these requests due to space and staffing, this renovation will create opportunities for increased engagement and partnership.”

Renovations are expected to be completed next summer. While it’s going on, the second building on the observatory’s campus, the Mitchel Building will be unaffected by the renovation and will continue holding programs.

For more information, visit Cincinnati Observatory, visit cincinnatiobservatory.org.

For more Ohio travel inspiration, sign up for our Ohio Magazine newsletters.

Ohio Magazine is available in a beautifully designed print issue that is published 7 times a year, along with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter editions of LongWeekends magazine. Subscribe to Ohio Magazine and stay connected to beauty, adventure and fun across our state.