About

Michael D. Morgan, J.D., founder and president

Michael D. Morgan, J.D. brings an eclectic curriculum vitae to Queen City History’s work. In the early 2000s, Morgan began utilizing his background as an attorney to advocate for historic preservation and community redevelopment in Cincinnati. Harnessing the simple power of storytelling, Morgan began changing the perception of places through the design of historic walking tours, the development of special events, and writing projects, like the award-winning book Over-the-Rhine: When Beer Was King, which helped transform the image of one of America’s most important historic neighborhoods.

Morgan also leads change through collaboration with institutions and local governments. He has served as chair of several public policy task forces at the request of Cincinnati City Council, including the Historic Building Loss Task Force, which improved the city’s historic preservation policies; the Charter Review Task Force, which led to notable improvements to Cincinnati’s municipal charter; as well as advocating for the creation of Cincinnati’s Board of Housing Appeals, then serving as Chair of the board for its first six years.

Combining legal knowledge, historic research, preservation advocacy, and community engagement, Morgan is responsible for overseeing the creation of two National Register of Historic Places designations in Cincinnati, both with an unprecedented element. The Sohn-Mohawk district is both federally and locally designated; and Morgan drafted the local historic guidelines to become the first in the U.S. to apply visual, more user friendly, form-based code principles.

In 2023, Cincinnati Potter’s Field became the first stand-alone, public cemetery for the indigent and unknown to be placed on the National Register. This was part of a larger, federally grant funded project to map, protect, and restore the burial ground of roughly 20,000 people that has been entirely neglected for almost 45 years.

Among a wide range of interests, Morgan identifies most personally with the role of writer. This vein of work ranges from generating all of the content for Cincinnati’s Brewing Heritage Trail, to contract work for businesses, as well as independent and freelance projects. Morgan’s work can be found in books as well as publications such as Cincinnati magazine and CityBeat, among others. He is also the author of three books about the regional beer industry and its history, as well as a manuscript that he is currently seeking a national publisher for.

Michael D. Morgan is a proud graduate of Ohio University and the University of Toledo College of Law. He has taught courses in political advocacy, urban planning law, principles of the craft brewing industry, and beer history and appreciation at the University of Cincinnati, as well as Real Estate Law at the UC College of Law.

Along with co-host Bret Kollmann Baker and co-producer Dan Phenicie, Morgan is part of Brew Skies Productions Ltd., which produces “Brew Skies Happy Hour: A Road Trip Through The History of American Craft Beer.” Yes, anybody can have a podcast these days, but this professionally produced show chronicles the evolution, ups and downs of the post-WWII American beer industry through interviews with craft beer pioneers, along with nationally prominent authors and historians. 

Due to both groundbreaking accomplishments and a gregarious, colorful nature, Morgan and his work have been featured in a number of publications and broadcasts, including Cincinnati magazine, Ohio magazine, Governing magazine, multiple articles in the Cincinnati Business Courier, Cincinnati Enquirer, WCPO.com, and Soapbox Media. He has made numerous broadcast appearances on radio and television, including the nationally syndicated My Haunted Hometown and internationally syndicated Underground Marvels, and he was declared one of Cincinnati’s “13 Most Interesting People” by Cincy magazine.