THE CINCINNATI INCLINE CLIMB

Between 1871 and 1948, Cincinnati was home to an uplifting mode of transportation: the inclined railway. Positioned throughout the seven hills, a total of five inclines were constructed to take residents from the basin to the hilltops providing work, pleasure, and expansion of the city. Resorts were erected at the top of four of the inclines offering both entertainment and libations which attracted locals, tourists, and even Hollywood celebrities.

Mt. Adams Incline via CincinnatiViews.net

Price Hill Incline in 1888 via CincinnatiViews.net

Mt. Adams Incline via CincinnatiViews.net

Bellevue Incline and Bellevue House Resort via CincinnatiViews.net

Several factors contributed to the demise of the inclines including Prohibition and the rise in popularity of the automobile. This year, a group of us set out to explore the remnants of the 142-year-old system and climb each of the five hills where the inclines once stood.  Stay tuned during the next few weeks for posts on each incline and what we discovered during our hike.

MT. ADAMS INCLINE

270 ft. high
29% grade

MT. AUBURN INCLINE

312 ft. high
35% and 25% grade

We lucked out. The city built a staircase over the former site.

BELLEVUE INCLINE

395 ft. high
31% - 42% grade

FAIRVIEW INCLINE

345 ft. high
35% grade

PRICE HILL INCLINE

350 ft. high
44% - 48% grade