Description

Cincinnati is famous for its picturesque setting on a crescent of green hills facing the Ohio River. The city proper was built in a basin just below the hills. The city filled in rapidly, and by 1870, it was a dense maze of homes, factories, schools, and shops. It was a convenient place to live and work; however, it was also congested and very smoky. Many residents longed for the fresh air of a hilltop home. At first, only the rich could afford the pleasures of Highland life. Then, in 1872, the first inclined plane railway opened to offer inexpensive access to the fresh air communities above the smoke and grime of the basin. More inclines followed in the next few years, so that Clifton, Mt. Adams, and Price Hill became a more common address for middle-class families. The inclines were giant hillside elevators that whisked commuters from top to bottom in a minute or so. The view was beautiful, the journey was safe, and the fare was just 2-½ cents.

This book discusses the history and workings of these fascinating hillside transporters. We explain how they worked, the personalities who built and ran them, their safety record, and why they all disappeared by 1948. This volume is illustrated with photographs, contemporary engravings, and engineering drawings.

About the author John H. White Jr.
John H. White Jr. is a Cincinnati native who studied history at Miami University. In 1958 he began a 32-year career at the Smithsonian Institution where he worked as a Curator, Department Chairman and Senior Historian.

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