A massive industrial site on the gateway to Cincinnati’s West Side is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the late 19th century through the middle of the 20th century, the Lunkenheimer Valve Company employed thousands of people making parts for ships, steam locomotives and aircraft. Some of those parts made their way into the history books — including components of Charles Lindberg’s Spirit of St. Louis airplane.
“Driving across the Western Hills Viaduct into the West Side, the Lunkenheimer Valve Company building stands as a massive presence,” Cincinnati Preservation Association Executive Director Beth Johnson said in a statement. “Its walls hold a unique history that shaped modern manufacturing and anchored the surrounding community. Listing this property in the National Register acknowledges both its past and its continued importance to Cincinnati’s industrial and cultural landscape. This designation is a strategic step towards its preservation, creating a new life for the building and for this vital gateway to the West Side.”…