Cincinnati and Suburban Telephone Company Building

This limestone structure is decorated with carved rotary telephones and communication symbols across its exterior walls. The building was originally designed to house extensive telephone switching operations and reflects the architectural style of the 1930s.

Completed in 1931, this structure housed one of the largest telephone switching centers of its time. Its design represented a major milestone in Cincinnati's industrial infrastructure during the early telephone era.

The exterior displays carved representations of Alexander Graham Bell and maritime signal flags, reflecting what telecommunications meant to the city in the early 20th century. These symbols remain visible today as reminders of how communication shaped daily life.

The building is located downtown and is visible from the street, with stone carving details best seen during daytime hours. The location is easy to reach on foot and provides a good view of an important example of the city's architectural history.

Its interior once contained one of the longest straight telephone switchboards, accommodating dozens of operator stations in a single line. This technical achievement showed how advanced Cincinnati's communication infrastructure had become.

Location: Cincinnati

Architects: Harry Hake

Architectural style: Art Deco architecture

GPS coordinates: 39.10278,-84.51722

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:06