THE LION, THE BARN, THE BREWERY

150-Year-Old Lion Feels at Home at West Chester's Muhlhauser Barn

An iconic piece of the Cincinnati region’s rich history and heritage found a new home at Beckett Park near the Barn, which bears its original owner’s name – Muhlhauser.

Aside from glass beer bottles, collectibles and memorabilia from a bygone era in American history, little remains of the Windisch-Muhlhauser Brewing Company save for two stone lions, one restored 1881 timber-frame barn, and the family legacies binding their incredible stories together.

Dan and Anne Doran guarded one of the two lions for years and graciously gifted it to West Chester to be enjoyed by the community and be a part of the Muhlhauser Barn landscape.

In 1866-67, Conrad Windisch and Gottlieb Muhlhauser joined forces to create the Windisch-Muhlhauser Brewing Company, built along the canal in Over-The-Rhine. Many of Cincinnati’s prosperous beer barons, the Windisches and Muhhausers included, owned large summer homes on Butler County farms, where they would grow, harvest and store crops like barley, wheat and hops.

In operation for about 55 years, the Windisch Muhlhauser Brewing Company became one of the most successful breweries in America, if not the world.

The prolific brew house in Over-the-Rhine was built in the Romanesque Revival style and perched high above the rooftops of this large five-story brick building lounged two giant lion statues. The lions, measuring approximately 10-feet long by 3-feet wide by 6-feet tall, are depicted in old photographs, sketches and illustrations guarding the east façade of the main building, looking out over the canal.

One of these lions, weighing about 10,000 pounds and hand-carved of sandstone more than 150 years ago in Germany, now calls the Muhlhauser Barn and Beckett Park home.

Leo is not meant for climbing, but West Chester would love to see your family photos with Leo and hand-drawn artwork of the lion. Please tag West Chester Township when posting in social media.

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Uss Cincinnati Docks At VOA

The USS Cincinnati Cold War Memorial Peace Pavilion will be the newest permanent feature of the Voice of America MetroPark celebrating the significance of the U.S. on the world stage. The Pavilion is expected to open to the public in 2025.

The Cincinnati Chapter of the Navy League of the U.S. officially announced the installation of the nuclearpowered submarine USS Cincinnati at VOA Park, adjacent to the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, and a groundbreaking was planned for May.

Weighing 6,000 tons and measuring 361 feet long, or the length of an NFL football field, many important pieces of the USS Cincinnati will be incorporated into a fullscale, fully interactive historical landmark that celebrates American ingenuity. Officials hope the immersive exhibit will delight and inspire the next generation of leaders to explore military service and pursue careers in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

The nuclear-powered U.S. Navy submarine served our country from 1978 to 1996 and set sail to the scrap heap in 2012. Potentially condemned forever, the submarine was saved through the preservation efforts of the Navy League.

Learn more about the USS Cincinnati memorial at subcincy.org.