Cincinnati Preservation seeks community input on Black history project

A local nonprofit is ramping up efforts to document and preserve Black history across Greater Cincinnati – and it’s asking the community to help guide the work.

Cincinnati Preservation will host a public meeting Wednesday, July 31, at Walnut Hills Branch Library to share progress on its yearlong “Greater Cincinnati Black and African American Historic Context Study” and gather input on additional sites, themes and stories to include.

The study covers neighborhoods within the I-275 loop in both Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Preservation consultants from Gray & Pape will present initial findings and highlight the people, places and patterns that have shaped the region’s Black history. Attendees can suggest additions for the final report.

The open house begins at 6 p.m.

“The Greater Cincinnati Black and African American Historic Context Study is vital because it ensures that the full story of our region is told – one that includes the voices, struggles, triumphs and contributions of Black communities that have long been overlooked,” said Beth Johnson, Cincinnati Preservation’s executive director. “This study lays the foundation for recognition, preservation and justice through history.”

Preserving the region’s full history

Cincinnati Preservation – formerly the Cincinnati Preservation Association – has protected the region’s historic fabric since 1964. The upcoming meeting offers a rare opportunity for residents to shape how Black history gains formal recognition and long-term protection.

The group launched its Sites of Black History Initiative in 2022 to address long-standing gaps in what receives official preservation status. Nationally, just 2% of listings on the National Register of Historic Places reflect Black history – and Cincinnati mirrors that imbalance.

In July 2024, the nonprofit announced it had secured $65,000 in grant funding for the study: $50,000 from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and $15,000 from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.

The completed study will guide future National Register nominations, local landmark designations, and regional preservation planning.

Already, the effort has elevated several historically significant sites, including:

• A historic marker honoring Sarah and Peter Fossett, Black abolitionists and founders of First Baptist Church of Cumminsville
• Support for Union Baptist Cemetery, the oldest African American burial ground in Hamilton County
• Local historic designation for First Baptist Church in Walnut Hills, in partnership with the Walnut Hills Historical Society

With the upcoming public session and expanded outreach, Cincinnati Preservation plans to take the work further.

“Preserving Black history in Greater Cincinnati is essential to telling the full and honest story of our region,” Johnson said. “This work uplifts the voices, places, and legacies that have shaped the city but too often go unrecognized.”

Those who can’t attend in person can submit suggestions through the “Submit a Location” tool at cincinnatipreservation.org. After the meeting, the organization will post a slide deck and offer an email link for additional feedback at cincinnatipreservation.org/blackhistory.

“Cincinnati Preservation is honored to walk alongside Black communities, scholars, and advocates in this effort – listening, learning, and supporting as partners,” Johnson added. “Together, we are building a more inclusive and truthful foundation for future generations.”

Cincinnati Preservation