Cincinnati Tennis Club
Why it's listed
On a three-acre corner of Dexter and Wold Avenues in East Walnut Hills, the Cincinnati Tennis Club has operated since 1899, after earlier homes in Music Hall and three temporary Walnut Hills sites. A simple frame clubhouse from 1906, with a hipped roof sloping over a long open porch, overlooks ten courts. The building was enlarged in 1914, its porch widened in 1922, and part of the porch enclosed after World War II, yet it keeps its rustic summerhouse look. The club, founded in 1880, earned its place in tennis history by hosting the Tri-State Tournament, which drew champions such as May Sutton, Bobby Riggs and Molla Bjurstedt, and by staging a National Clay Court Championship in 1914. It hired a professional instructor in 1917, one of the first in the Midwest, and produced Wimbledon champion Tony Trabert in 1955. Its surroundings of large houses and mature trees remain largely unchanged.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the club is significant for its long role in developing tennis in Cincinnati and the Ohio Valley, particularly on its present site. It hosted the Tri-State Tournament, which was ranked just below the Newport national tournament in early twentieth-century importance, along with other regional and national matches. Its competitive and professional tradition produced a Wimbledon champion in 1955.
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 83001979, listed March 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Dexter and Wold Aves., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001979 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906 - present |
| Architect / builder | Tietig & Lee (architects) - Clubhouse |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition, though altered; the clubhouse retains its basic shape and rustic summerhouse appearance. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 39.13416, -84.46929 (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 83001979.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5120320
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.