CINCINNATI

It may surprise you as it did me.  The 1880 Democrat National Convention, convened for the purpose of nominating a presidential candidate, was held from June 22 - 24 at Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Winfield S. Hancock of Pennsylvania won the nomination - he lost the election to James A. Garfield.

Music Hall had just opened two years before, in 1878.  It was used as the city's convention center until 1967 when a separate building was constructed for that purpose.

The 1876 Republican National Convention was also held in Cincinnati.  The convention nominated Rutherford B. Hayes and was held in the Exposition Hall.  Exposition hall was used for conventions,  symphony and opera.  It was a wooden structure with a tin roof.  The acoustics were poor when it rained.