Site of Abraham Lincoln’s Speech in Cincinnati Where you can find the marker: On the building at 100 E. Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati, right by Government Square. The history: In 1858, Abraham Lincoln lost the race for a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois to Stephen A. Douglas, but the race, which featured the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debates, catapulted the future president into the political spotlight. By September of the next year, Douglas was trying to make inroads with Ohio Republicans and making speeches throughout the state. Lincoln would visit each city following Douglas to deliver remarks rebutting Douglas’ recent statements in Harper’s Weekly regarding congressional authority and states’ rights when it came to slavery. Lincoln gave his speech in Cincinnati on Sept. 17, 1859, from a balcony along Fifth Street where Government Square is now located. A plaque marking the moment was later installed by the Ohio Lincoln Sesquicentennial Committee. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

After a lengthy closure for renovations, historic Lytle Park in downtown Cincinnati will officially reopen this week.

The reopening will take place Friday, April 26 with a ceremonial turning on of the new fountain at 11 a.m. Neighbor Taft Museum of Art will also host a celebration with special perks, including free admission from Friday-Monday, April 26-29 and complimentary lemonade and cookies on the museum’s front lawn on Friday from noon to 2 p.m.

Crews broke ground on the renovations in November 2022, with the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners saying the project became necessary following the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Lytle Tunnel ventilation project, which was completed in 2017. The board added the work would also revitalize the underused park on the site of the 18th-century Fort Washington — one of the oldest parts of the city.

The project added new landscaping, benches and lighting along with a new hardscape with several plazas, brick walkways and a decorative fountain. For recreation, visitors can use the new running track, bocce ball court or playground. Visitors will also still be greeted by the 11-foot-tall bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln — commissioned by Taft Museum co-founder Charles Phelps Taft — welcoming them to the park.

Western & Southern Financial Group donated $3.2 million to the project and has committed annual funding to go toward park maintenance.

In addition to free admission this weekend, the Taft Museum is also offering visitors free parking on a first-come-first-serve basis and 10% off in the museum gift shop, or 20% off for museum members.

Lytle Park, 501 E. Fourth St., Downtown. More info: cincinnati-oh.gov.

Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. More info: taftmuseum.org.

This article appears in Apr 17-30, 2024.

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...