Most People Don't Know The True Story Behind This Cincinnati Castle
By Andrea Limke|Published October 21, 2017
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
How many historic buildings and structures in Cincinnati do you drive past and wonder how they came to be? Our city is full of these mysterious places, and uncovering their pasts is just as interesting as the structures themselves. Close to downtown, right at the main entrance to Eden Park, stands the majestic Elsinore Arch. You’ve likely noticed this beautiful building before, but do you know the story behind it?
The stunning Elsinore Arch stands at the corner of Gilbert Avenue and Elsinore Place, at the entrance to Eden Park.
This arch may seem a bit out of place, especially these days, as it is next to the modern WCPO building and other new developments. But when it was built, there was much thought and purpose put into its design.
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In 1883, Cincinnati Water Works needed to build a new valve house in this spot and they decided they needed a structure that would be deserving of the existing park's beauty.
Eden Park remains a lovely place today and one of the city's treasured natural retreats. It is filled with a rich history and Elsinore Arch is a part of that, especially in its spot at the main entrance to the park.
The story of how it was designed is rooted in the arts, which were an important part of Cincinnati's culture, even in the 1880s.
During the planning stage for this building, a Shakespearean Festival was taking place at Music Hall and Hamlet was being performed. The story goes that someone from Cincinnati Water Works was in the audience and was immediately inspired by the beautiful set design. The backdrop was a painted image of Elsinore Castle, which was the setting for Hamlet and is also known as Kronborg Castle, which still stands in Denmark (shown above). After the performance, Charles B. Hannaford was shown a drawing of the set and the idea for the Elsinore Arch was born.
Designed by the same architectural firm that completed Music Hall and City Hall, the arch was completed in late 1883 for a cost of $15,000.
This stunning castle-like arch remains today as one of the most recognized places in Cincinnati. Like most historic buildings, it has an interesting tale, and today we can be grateful for those who built such a structure that simply houses a water valve.
Elsinore Arch is one of many historic structures in our city that we lovingly preserve and admire. Have you ever wondered about this enchanting castle-like arch? Let us know in the comments!
And for more photos of Cincinnati’s beautiful past, check out our previous article here.
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