Elsinore Arch

Elsinore Arch is a Romanesque Revival gatehouse in Eden Park featuring two connected towers with a passage between them. A cylindrical fortified tower and a square tower are joined by a crenellated arch, creating a striking entrance structure.

The structure was built in 1883 by Cincinnati Water Works to improve the water supply system in the city. The building was technically necessary to house important pipes and valves for the water network.

The structure takes its name from a literary and architectural inspiration that shows in its theatrical form. Visitors can notice the connection to European castle design in the details that set this building apart from other structures around the city.

The building sits at the Gilbert Avenue intersection in Eden Park and is easy to spot from the street. Visitors can view it from outside since it still serves as equipment storage and is not open to the public.

A water works superintendent had the building designed after spotting a newspaper illustration of Shakespeare's Elsinore Castle during a theatrical festival. This literary connection turned a practical water pump into a dramatic architectural piece with historical character.

Location: Cincinnati

Inception: 1883

Architects: Charles Edward Hannaford

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 39.11310,-84.49970

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:03