Grant will fund filming and production of Union Terminal restoration documentary
CINCINNATI – Surrounded by scaffolding and construction materials in the Rotunda of Union Terminal, the Scripps Howard Foundation presented a grant for $15,000 to Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC). The grant will be used by CMC to produce a documentary on the repair of Union Terminal, a historic project that will fully restore the national historic landmark.
The Scripps Howard Foundation grant will help document the transformation of Union Terminal, telling the story of how science and engineering are coming together to save a piece of history. Behind-the-scenes access, work in progress and interviews with experts from around the country involved in the project will ultimately give viewers a detailed look at the finesse and expertise involved in such a historic undertaking.
“Union Terminal is a Cincinnati landmark that preserves our rich history and has evolved over time to now serve as a vital center to educate and enrich our community,” said Liz Carter, president of the Scripps Howard Foundation. “The Scripps Howard Foundation proudly supports the restoration project and what a wonderful story this documentary will tell as Union Terminal is restored to its original glory.”
The grant will be used to fund the video and photo documentation of the work being done to restore Union Terminal, as well as the production of a documentary. The documentary is expected to air in prime time on WCPO 9 On Your Side following the completion of the restoration project and will also be shown in Union Terminal’s restored Scripps Howard Newsreel Theater.
When it opened in 1933, Union Terminal was a triumph of Art Deco design and engineering. Eight decades later, Union Terminal is still regarded as an architectural masterpiece but has suffered natural deterioration and water damage, compounded by delayed maintenance and outdated mechanical systems. Now, after 83 years, Union Terminal is getting the full structural restoration it desperately needs to remain a viable home for CMC and to continue to stand as a community icon.
“The community came together to help us save this building, to ensure this piece of our collective history is also an integral part of our community’s future,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “The generosity of the Scripps Howard Foundation allows us to pull back the curtain on the project and to tell the stories of Union Terminal itself and those working to restore it.”
Hamilton County voters overwhelmingly approved a five year, one-quarter of one percent sales tax increase to help fund the restoration of Union Terminal. That sales tax is estimated to bring in nearly $175 million, a significant portion of the $212.7 million needed to restore the building.
“It’s important that we show the community the impact of their investment in Union Terminal,” said Pierce. “We want them to see the work that is being done and the level of precision and care invested in this project.”
The restoration of Union Terminal is currently underway and is expected to be complete by late fall of 2018. For more information visit www.myunionterminal.com