Everyone who knows Cincinnati has a favorite moment that seems to sum up the city. For some, it's a breathtaking sunset view from the Twin Lakes overlook at Eden Park. For others, it's the skyline at night during a Cincinnati Reds' home game, when Great American Ball Park glows like the beating heart of 40,000 fans. Thousands would say it's Riverfest and the fireworks on Labor Day weekend. And for thousands more, the perfect moment is simply standing on Fountain Square in front of the Genius of Water on a hot summer day.
The 21st century has brought dramatic changes to the Queen City. There are two new stadiums and a riverfront reclaimed for fresh air and recreation. A deteriorated park has been revitalized, and its neighborhood renewed for a new generation. There's even a streetcar—a modern one—to link it all together. Whether your image of Cincinnati is old or new, these photographs celebrate it all, crafting a portrait of a city that looks forward, but never forgets the past.