Mosaics

German-born artist Winold Reiss was commissioned in 1932 to design murals for the Cincinnati’s railroad station, called Union Terminal. Reiss submitted drawings in 1931 to the architectural firm Fellheimer and Wagner. He was chosen to design and create huge color mosaic murals for the concourse and Rotunda and assist in creating the Art Deco style for the entire building. Reiss won the commission over French artist Pierre Bourdelle. The murals in the Rotunda and concourse areas are made of mosaic tiles and painted stucco have three distinctive styles and levels.

The 12-foot foreground figures illustrate the workings of people in the developing country. The middle ground shows forms of transportation from covered wagons to steamships, airplanes and—of course—railroads. The abstract background shows the landscape from fields to bustling cities. Each mural is 105-feet long and more than 20-feet high.

The mural to the left (south) of the main entrance depicts the development of the country. The background traces the history of transportation from the dog travois of Native Americana to the ocean-going steamship. The middle ground shows the changing landscape from the plains to the eastern metropolis. The foreground represents the people who lived in and settled the country from the Native Americans to steel workers in the modern city.

The mural to the right (north) of the main entrance depicts the growth of Cincinnati. The background illustrates the development of regional transportation from flatboat to airplane. The middle ground shows the infant town of Cincinnati, the spread of population to surrounding country, and finally, the modern city. The foreground illustrates the people who lived in the Cincinnati area—from the soldiers at Fort Washington to industrial workers. Winold Reiss drew the portraits from life, and many of his subjects were Cincinnatians.

The men instrumental in the terminal project are shown in wall mosaics located on either side of the concourse area, near the entry to the OMNIMAX ® Theater. On the left (south) side are (left to right): Russell Wilson, Mayor of Cincinnati in 1933; H.A. Worcester, the first president of the Union Terminal Company; C.A. Dykstra, City Manager in 1933.

On the right (north) side are (left to right): Murray Seasongood, Mayor of Cincinnati in 1929 when the project began; C.O. Sherrill, City Manager in 1929; H.M. Waite, Chief Engineer for the Union Terminal Company; George Dent Crabbs, civic leader and founder of the Union Terminal Company.

Originally, Reiss designed 14 mosaic panels for the concourse area depicting some of Cincinnati’s specific industries like Baldwin Piano, Procter & Gamble and U.S. Playing Cards. Those mosaics were moved to the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati International Airport in the 1970s before Union Terminal's concourse was destroyed. These murals can still be seen today at the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport terminals one, two and three.

About Union Terminal: Architecture

About Union Terminal: History

About Union Terminal: Facts