The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum will shut its doors on Saturday as its volunteer-run board starts hunting for a new home. Leaders say the current Reading Road space - packed with thousands of artifacts tracing the region's law enforcement history and short on parking - has simply outgrown its usefulness. Public tours and school visits will go on pause while volunteers focus on securing a new site.
As reported by WKRC Local12, director Bill Bueke said, "It's a good message no one is telling it; we need more room to get more people," and confirmed the museum will close Saturday while leaders search for a new location. The station also noted that the museum has not shared where it might land next or when the public will be able to walk through its doors again.
Union Terminal Declined To Host The Collection
One possible solution already fizzled. Last year, museum leaders explored moving the collection into Union Terminal, but Cincinnati Museum Center ultimately turned the request down. According to FOX19, the center said certain law enforcement artifacts, including firearms, would not be appropriate next to the Children's Museum and the Holocaust & Humanity Center.
What's In The Collection
The museum's collection covers a lot of ground, from 19th-century tools to modern uniforms, badges and a memorial wall honoring officers. The organization documents artifacts from more than 160 tri-state agencies, according to WCPO. Volunteers and retired officers have kept the place running since it opened in the 2000s, and private donations help keep the exhibits available to the public.
How You Can Help
The organization has not set a reopening date and is asking the public to keep an eye on its website and social channels for updates, per the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum. The homepage lists contact information and a donations page for anyone who wants to help cover moving and storage costs, and volunteers say preserving the archive will be their top priority as they explore new locations.
