The Baum-Taft House is one of the Federalist detailed grand mansions in Ohio. With a single-storey structure, it used to be the residence of Charles P. Taft, a half-brother of President Taft. In 1927, Taft passed it on to the City of Cincinnati in 1908, together with the painting collection, oriental porcelains, and sculptures to the City inside it. A few of these remarkable pieces*** are landscape murals by Robert S. Duncanson, who became the first African-American artist to gain international recognition.

In May 2004, it was opened as the Taft Museum after a renovation and expansion amounting to $22.8 million. In November of the same year, because of the extensive efforts done on the museum, it was awarded a Preservation Merit Award by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.

It was declared as a National Historic Landmark on January 7, 1976.