Let's play a game. Where can you find...

...the first professional children's theater in the nation?
...the second oldest opera company in the country?
...the longest-running choral festival in the Western Hemisphere?

New York?
Nope.

L.A.?
Uh uh.

Chicago?
Wrong again.

The answer? Cincinnati, Ohio.

Behind each one of those stats is a story. Now, those and so many others are coming to life through a new tour from ArtsWave and its partner, American Legacy Tours, which hosts more than 30 tours in the Cincinnati region each week.

The two-hour guided walking tour of Over-the-Rhine puts a spotlight on the history and innovation of the region's robust arts scene. Throughout the tour, you'll see first-hand how the growth of the arts intertwined with the creation of Cincinnati itself. That story is steeped with decisions by innovative leaders who, over centuries, had the foresight to envision Cincy's future. Creating a city that would become known as the "Paris of America" wasn't a pipe dream; it was a long-term investment into the region we have today.

Whether it's walking down steps etched with the titles from Shakespeare's full canon at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, visiting the white box exhibition area at the Art Academy of Cincinnati or stepping into the stage manager's perch at the Know Theatre of Cincinnati, you'll visit parts of arts venues not commonly open to the public.

Just like Cincy's arts, the tour itself is ever-changing. Each week, there will be four to five different organizations chosen for inside visits, with 12 stops offered in total. Regardless of what day you come, you'll hear the stories behind these organizations and more: Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, May Festival, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Arts Association, Memorial Hall, The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Friends of Music Hall, School for Creative and Performing Arts, and ArtsWave.

Tours are $39 per person, with a discounted rate of $750 for groups of up to 24. A portion of the ticket price and 100% of all tour donations support 150+ local arts organizations, projects and artists through ArtsWave. Tours can be booked through the American Legacy Tours website. Group tours for families, friends, teams and co-workers can be booked directly with ArtsWave at artswave.org/artstour.