Islamic Association of Cincinnati

Muslims around Cincinnati first started trying to centrally organize in the early 1960s. They would meet for Friday prayer at the University of Cincinnati YMCA.^[1] In 1968 a local family purchased a home at 2515 Fairview Avenue converting it for use as a Mosque. The IAC was then officially established in 1970. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s immigration to the area increased and with it saw the rise of Muslims as well.^[1] The IAC soon outgrew the mosque and established a new one in 1982 at 3668 Clifton Avenue where the Clifton Mosque still stands to this day.^[1] In the 1990s growth continued and in 1988 the IAC purchased 18 acres of land in West Chester, Ohio where they would build the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati (ICGC).^[1][2] The project was spearheaded by local Syrian immigrant and businessman Ahmad Samawi.^[2] The ICGC was opened on 09 November 1995 at a cost of 5 million USDand remains the principle mosque for the IAC to this day.^[3] In August 2001, the 42,500-square foot Islamic private school El-Sewedy International Academy of Cincinnati school opened on the grounds of the Center.^[2][4][5]

The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati is a 14,000 square foot building designed by Egyptian architect Ramzi Mahallawi and built in a mix of 8th century Syrian and 12th century Moorish styles.^[6]