About This Location
Cincinnati Music Hall is a stunning National Historic Landmark built in 1878, home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, and Cincinnati Ballet. The magnificent Victorian Gothic building was constructed on land with a dark history - the site previously held Ohio's first insane asylum, a Potter's Field cemetery for the poor and unidentified, and an orphan asylum called the "Pest House." Between 6,000 and 10,000 bodies were buried beneath what would become Music Hall.
The Ghost Story
Human bones have been discovered every time excavation has occurred on the property, including during recent renovations when remains were found beneath the orchestra pit. The late conductor Erich Kunzel once stated that he had met the ghosts while working alone at 3 AM - "They're very friendly." Employees report phantom whispers, mysterious singing, angry voices, and apparitions dressed for elegant nights out. One famous account involves an employee who brought his three-year-old son to the empty hall. The child looked at a box seat and asked "Daddy, who's that man in the box?" When told no one was there, the boy insisted "He's waving at me right now." They left immediately. The Travel Channel lists Music Hall as one of America's most terrifying places, and it was featured on Ghost Hunters in 2014.
