The bulk of the CINCINNATI UNION TERMINAL mall was shuttered in 1984. After the final stores closed in 1986, the city was left with a huge, vacant building. A second reinvention was proposed. This time, a museum complex -consolidating 3 institutions- would occupy the structure. A bond issue narrowly passed in May 1986. This, and other grants and donations, were used to create CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER, which opened in October 1990.
Graphic from http://www.cincymuseum.org