PRESS RELEASE

August 8, 2011

Media Contact: Casey Kroger (513) 287-7054 office, (513) 608-5777 cell, ckroger@cincymuseum.org

Cincinnati Museum Center celebrates Union Terminal’s history with 1940s Day on August 27
Highlights include performances by the Manhattan Dolls and WMKV Big Band, vintage car show and a chance to record your oral history

CINCINNATI - Artifacts tell a story of the time and place they come from and preserve history for future generations. At Cincinnati Museum Center, Union Terminal is our largest artifact, and you better believe it has a story to tell!

On August 27 we’re celebrating the history of Union Terminal and taking you back to its origins as a major transfer point for soldiers during World War II. Relive the 1940s with activities in Cincinnati History Museum’s Cincinnati Goes to War exhibit, 1940s era music, a recreated USO lounge, classic films and newsreels and a vintage car show. You’ll also want to come prepared to leave your legacy and record your oral history. Read on for details!

Cincinnati History Museum Activities

• WWII Backpack – Take a look into the life of the GI and see what soldiers carried in their packs during WWII. Everything from clothing, food, letters from home and a few things in-between. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• William Turner, Pullman Porter – Mr. Turner talks on our streetcar about the role of Pullman Porters. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Gallery Talks – Visit the Home Front for special presentations on subjects relating to Cincinnati and WWII. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 1940s Artifacts - See artifacts from our collection not normally on display in the Home Front gallery. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Swing Band and Dance

Join the Maple Knoll Big Band for authentic 1940s music and show off your best swing dance moves on the dance floor with the Cincinnati Historic Dance Society.
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Manhattan Dolls Performance
Let the nostalgia fill the air with great music of the 1930s and ‘40s from the Manhattan Dolls! Hear favorites such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Rum and Coca Cola, Blue Skies and more.
2 to 3 p.m.

Recreating the USO

During WWII, Union Terminal was home to a Troops-in-Transit USO lounge, the first such lounge to open in the country. Learn about the services the USO provided to men and women in uniform and see a display on Union Terminal. Stop by for a ration taste testing and see how many families did “with less so they’ll have enough.” Join us for a USO Flyer Drop, recreating a method used by the USO on the eve of America’s entry into WWII to educate the public on the important duties of the USO. Pick up a souvenir flyer and get a discount on a future admission!
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ration Taste Testing: 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
USO Flyer Drop: 2 p.m.

Classic Films and Newsreels

Take a break in our restored Newsreel Theater and watch some classic films of the 1930s and ‘40s. Films will run throughout the day with brief breaks of newsreels from the period.

His Girl Friday: 10:30 a.m. to Noon
Arsenic and Old Lace: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
And Then There Were None: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Oral Histories
Do you have a story to tell about the 1940s? Be the voice of a generation and stop by to record your legacy. Oral histories will be added to the Cincinnati Historical Society Library so future generations can learn about this important decade.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Car Show
Union Terminal serves as a backdrop to a vintage car show! Walk around the fountain and see vehicles from all over the region, including America’s Packard Museum, Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky and private collectors.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Union Terminal Rotunda Tours
Learn about the history, construction, architecture and art of one the finest examples of Art Deco and visit places not open to the public with our free Rotunda Tours.
Noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Tower A
Restored and maintained by the Cincinnati Railroad Club, Tower A was the main control tower for Union Terminal. Get a bird’s eye view of the tracks that served as a transfer point to more than 20,000 soldiers a day during WWII.
Noon to 4 p.m.

Activities in Cincinnati History Museum are free for Members or included in your All Museums Pass or with a ticket to Cincinnati History Museum. Activities in the Rotunda are free. Visit www.cincymuseum.org or call (513) 287-7000 for more details.

Navy Week - August 28, 31 and September 2 and 3
Come back August 28, 31 and September 2 and 3 as Museum Center participates in Cincinnati Navy Week! Meet Navy Sailors and join in Navy related programs that demonstrate the critical mission of the U.S. Navy and our proud heritage.

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About Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution as well as national historic landmark. Dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration, Museum Center was awarded the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Our Union Terminal has been voted the nation’s 45th most important building by the American Institute of Architects. Organizations within Cincinnati Museum Center include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. Recognized as Forbes Traveler Magazine as the 17th most visited museum in the country, Cincinnati Museum Center welcomes one million plus visitors annually. Cincinnati Museum Center gratefully acknowledges operating and capital support from the taxpayers of Hamilton County and the State of Ohio. For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org.