2501 Riverside Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Parish Office: (513) 871-1162 | office@strosecincinnati.org
Founded in January 1867 in Cincinnati’s East End, St. Rose Church stands as a prominent landmark along Columbia Parkway and the Ohio River. Its iconic spire has guided both commuters and river travelers for generations. The parish was established in what was then called Fulton, Ohio—an area once bustling with steamboat construction. The church was dedicated in May 1869, and its location on Riverside Drive links it closely with the river’s rhythms, including more than 60 floods over the years, marked on a gauge at the church’s rear.
Notably, President William Howard Taft would stop at nearby Fulton Station to address the community and visit St. Rose School children. The church was restored after a fire in January 1894, which destroyed the main altar. A redecoration took place in May 2009.
The interior features three ornate beechnut-wood altars with a range of saints depicted in statuary, a hand-carved walnut pulpit with the four evangelists, and original stained-glass windows. A solid wood Pieta and a revolving tabernacle add to the church’s distinctive character. The dome above the main altar includes symbols of its patroness, St. Rose, referencing her life as a seamstress.
Originally lit by gaslights, the church transitioned to electricity, now illuminated by 147 bulbs. Its tower clocks, each with 7-foot faces, remain a timekeeping landmark—particularly for riverboat crews. Through art, architecture, and enduring presence, St. Rose continues to reflect the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Cincinnati’s riverfront.