Cincinnati is an interesting place. It was the first in the field for a lot of things, from having the first professional major league baseball team to establishing its first Jewish hospital. There are quirky things that even residents of The Queen City don't know.
1. The oldest public observatory in the country resides right here in Cincinnati
-The Cincinnati Observatory, located at 3489 Observatory Ave in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Mount Lookout, was built in 1873 with its famous dome added in 1895
2. The wolf statue in Eden Park was a gift from Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini
-That's not even one of the strangest facts. Prior to its destruction, it showed a mother wolf nursing two young boys and it was indeed strange. It was intended to honor Lucius Quinctus Cincinnatus, the Roman statesman and one responsible for the name of the city. The two boys represented Romulus and Remus, the twins whose story related to the founding of Rome. This statue was sent to Cincinnati for a Sons of Italy convention in 1929, but a larger one was switched out and put here in 1931. Unfortunately, in December 2022, the statue was removed by vandals, most likely to cash in the bronze for money. The Cincinnati Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy partnered with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation to create a new statue
3. Charles Manson was born in Cincinnati
-Charles Manson and his actual birth family are from Ashland, Kentucky. They're native Kentuckians. His mother just happened to choose a hospital in nearby Cincinnati to give birth. He was born on 11/12/1934 and lived in reform schools before going to Utah. There he was arrested after escaping with three Indiana Boys School students. He was considered illiterate, aggressive, anti-social and a psychiatrist recommended time in a minimum security prison. He landed in the Federal Reformatory in Petersburg, Virginia in 1952. He was in and out of prison until 1967, when an early release was granted and he formed "The Manson Family". In 1969 he and his "family" murdered pregnant actress Sharon Tate and other members of the Tate-LaBianca family over several days in Los Angeles
4. The Cincinnati apartment complex known as Swinton Village was once managed by Donald Trump
-At a foreclosure auction in 1964, the largest, mostly half empty apartment complex known as Swinton Village was purchased by Donald Trump. He was just a senior in high school in a military academy and he considered this his first major deal. He talked about it in his book The Art of the Deal. He talked of evicting poor, non paying residents who had "come down from the hills of Kentucky" with "seven or eight children, almost no possessions."
5. The lizards seen all over the city were introduced to Cincinnati by a tourist returning from Italy
-Known as "Lazarus Lizards", a tourist introduced these lizards into the city after visiting Milan brought some back and released them in their yard. They originate in Northern Italy. The lizards are even found in neighboring states Kentucky and Indiana
6. Famed astronaut Neil Armstrong was the professor of aeronautical engineering at the University of Cincinnati from 1971-1979
-That's right. You read that right. Famed astronaut Neil Armstrong taught at the University of Cincinnati from 1971-1979. He taught aeronautical engineering.
7. The world's only museum for ventriloquism exists right here in the Tri-State area
-Vent Haven is the world's only museum dedicated to the quirky art of ventriloquism. With 900+ figures and counting, guests can view all the figures, books, photos and more. Also, they host the International ConVENTion each year for dozens of worldwide ventriloquists. It's temporarily closed, as it is undergoing renovations. It's located at 33 W. Maple Ave, Fort Mitchell, KY.
8. The inventors of the Magic 8 Ball are Cincinnatians
-Laura C. Cooper Pruden was a psychic medium who lived here in Cincinnati. Her son, Albert Carter, gained an interest in the world of mysticism and psychic mediums from his mother. He had an idea for a toy that would be similar to the Magic 8 ball, answering "yes" or "no". He applied for a patent for his Syco-Slate "liquid filled dice agitator" in 1944. The patent, as co-filers, Abe Bookman (filed as Buchmann), Julius Mintz and Max E. Levinson. Later on, Levinson and Bookman created the actual Magic 8 Ball, as it's come to be known. They created it to look like the black 8 ball from billiards with additional answers besides "yes" and "no"
9. Prior to achieving big name success in the world of rap, Eminem both competed and lost in a Rap Battle at the Cincinnati Hip Hop festival Scribble Jam
-An important piece of the Eminem history is his constant rap battles. This includes a stint at the Cincinnati-based Scribble Jam, a not so well known event for hip hop fans. This annual event celebrates the four branches of the hip hop culture - graffiti, dance, MCing and DJing. It debuted in 1996 to limited fanfare, but exploded in 1997 and drew thousands of people. It proved to be successful for Eminem, as he sealed his place in hip hop history here in Cincinnati
10. Fredric Baur, the inventor of the Pringles can, is buried here in Cincinnati, in his own invention
-Fredric Baur was a Cincinnati chemist and the inventor of the Pringles can. He died in 2008 and was cremated and buried at Arlington Memorial Gardens. His remains were put into an Original Flavor Pringles can.
11. The Cincinnati Reds were the first major league baseball team to travel by plane
-The Cincinnati Reds have a lot of firsts attached to their name. They were originally known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings and were the first major professional baseball team in 1869. They played in the Major League against the Philadelphia Phillies at Crosley Field on 5/24/1935. Reds catcher Willard Hershberger was the first baseball player to commit suicide during the season. 6/8/1934 marks the first major league baseball team to use to travel. They traveled to Chicago
12. Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati
-The legendary director was born in Cincinnati in December 1946
13. The "Least Metal Moment" occurred right here in Cincinnati
-In the early 2000s, Motley Crue front man Vince Neil led the Chicken Dance at the annual Oktoberfest
14. The Licking River also flows north
-Like the Nile River, the locally-based Licking River also flows north
15. Fleischmann Gardens has the largest gingko tree in Ohio
-Located at 524 Forest Ave in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Avondale, is Fleischmann Gardens. Ohio's largest gingko tree resides here. This park is respectively named after Charles Fleischmann, founder of the Fleischmann Yeast Company. This park also has an evergreen maze
16. The world's last passenger pigeon died in Cincinnati
-Named Martha, the world's last passenger pigeon died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. With her death, the passenger pigeon species became officially extinct. There's a mural dedicated to her at 15 E. Eighth St and at the Cincinnati Zoo, there's a separate building honoring this adorable little animal
17. A wreath from Abraham Lincoln's casket is on display at Memorial Hall
-Located at 1225 Elm St in the neighborhood of Over-The-Rhine, Memorial Hall was designed by architect Samuel Hannaford & Sons. It was built in 1908 to honor the veterans of both the Civil War and Spanish-American War. It's listed on the register of historic places. It displays various military and civic artifacts, including a wreath that was on the casket of former president Abraham Lincoln
18. The last town crier works in Mariemont
-In the affluent East Side of Cincinnati neighborhood of Mariemont, there exists the nation's last town crier. It's definitely gotten an update from its 18th century beginnings. Back then, town criers were employed to inform locals of the news or major announcements, since many townsfolk were illiterate. The village of Mariemont has held fast to the tradition. Town crier Dr. Bob Keys has other duties in addition to sprouting the news of the day. He opens the town meetings, leads the Memorial Day parades, speaks to groups about his position in the city
19. Mount Adams was originally called Mount Ida
-The hilltop neighborhood known as Mount Adams, which provides breathtaking views of downtown Cincinnati, was originally called Mount Ida after an old lady named Ida Martin who lived on the hill in a hollowed out sycamore tree. The name change came in 1843 when president John Quincy Adams went to Mount Ida to do a dedication ceremony for the Cincinnati Observatory. The observatory was originally here in Mount Adams, but was moved to Mount Lookout
20. The first female-owned and operated large manufacturer was right here in Cincinnati
-Rookwood Pottery was the first large manufacturer to be female owned and operated. It was founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Storer Nichols. This pottery is known for its impressive craftmanship and design
21. The first newspaper printed in the Northern Territory was printed right here in Cincinnati
-The Centinel of the Northwest Territory was printed for the first time on Nov. 9, 1793. The paper was published by engraver William Maxwell. It was published weekly until 1796. The motto was "open to all parties - but influenced by none." It was purchased by Edmund Freeman, who merged it with his Freeman's Journal and relocated to Chillicothe. It became The Chillicothe Gazette, Ohio's oldest newspaper
22. The first glass door oven comes from Cincinnati
-Ernest Huenefeld invented the first glass door oven in 1909. The glass allows bakers to see the progress of their food without opening the oven. A marker was dedicated in 2003 by the Cincinnati Preservation Association and The Ohio Historical Society. It's located at 2701 Spring Grove Ave in Camp Washington
23. The first paid professional fire department started here
-Located at 315 W. Court St, in downtown Cincinnati, the Fire Museum gives guests a long history of the world known as fire fighting. People can also learn that Cincinnati was the first city to have the first fully paid, fully professional fire department. The Cincinnati Fire Department was created in 1853
24. Cincinnati-based pop group Blessid Union of Souls almost wrote the theme to the film Armageddon
-Known as a highly successful film starring Liv Tyler, this Cincinnati-based group wrote a song called "Standing On The Edge of the Earth", which was slated to be used in the film. Unfortunately, this song got thrown to the wayside in favor of Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing". Most think it was nepotism that got this song selected only because Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler has his oldest daughter in the film
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