The building is next to Cincinnati's Music Hall and across from Washington Park in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.
[citation needed] Constructed according to a design by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the Memorial Building was intended to commemorate members of all branches of the U.S. armed services, as well as the pioneers who had established the United States.
[2] The hall contains a 556-seat theater that was designed for speaking, but is also used as a venue for concerts, film screenings and theatrical events.
[3] The theater's small size and acoustics allow for words spoken on stage in a normal voice to be easily be understood at the back of the balcony.
[2] In late 1978, the Memorial Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying for inclusion both because of its architecture and its history.