John Church Company Building

The John Church Company Building is an office building in downtown Cincinnati constructed in Renaissance Revival style. Its facade combines limestone and brick with classical architectural elements and ornate decorative details throughout.

Samuel Hannaford designed the building in 1885 as headquarters for the John Church Company, Ohio's largest music publisher. In 1892, multiple music publishers consolidated operations under this roof, making it a central distribution point for sheet music and instruments.

The building reflects Cincinnati's role as a hub for music publishing, where different publishing companies worked side by side. Visitors can see in the architecture how this musical commerce shaped the city's business life.

The building sits in downtown Cincinnati and is easily accessible on foot from major streets. Visitors should note it is an active office building, so interior access may be limited.

The building was once the beating heart of Cincinnati's music industry, a role often overlooked today. The fact that competing music publishers shared this space makes it a hidden piece of American music history.

Location: Cincinnati

Architects: Samuel Hannaford

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 39.10030,-84.51190

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24