B & O Freight Terminal
Why it's listed
Stretching roughly 1,160 feet along Pete Rose Way west of downtown Cincinnati, this five-story brick freight terminal was built in 1904 by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Architect M. A. Long, a railroad employee, designed it with rock-faced limestone columns on the first floor, engaged brick columns above, large semicircular arches on the fourth floor, and machicolations along the roofline. It replaced several obsolete warehouses and was meant to handle growth in Cincinnati's role as a shipping and transfer point. Freight came off rail cars on the north side, was stored, and then went onto wagons and later trucks on the south side. Outbound loads were weighed at a separate scale building nearby. The terminal originally measured 1,277 feet, but about 150 feet was removed in 1961 for the elevated interstate, and a fire destroyed part of the fifth floor. It was listed for its architecture and for its record of railroad freight handling.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a unique example of functional railroad architecture embellished with Romanesque Revival details, made notable by its exceptional length. It also illustrates how railroads moved and stored freight in Cincinnati when rail dominated freight transport. The terminal and scale building are described as important survivors of a vanishing type of specialized railroad building.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003521, listed December 29, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 700 Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | December 29, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003521 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | M. A. Long (architect employed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered, with mixed use; the nearby scale building is described as deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 39.09561, -84.52431 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003521.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4836932
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.