Cincinnati Yellow Lamps

Cincinnati Yellow Lamps Particular Local Infrastructure Please share photos of these lamps. Now they seem to primarily alert drivers to the raised island in the roadway.

They are found around the city of Cincinnati, most often in median islands or separators of city streets. I was once told that they originally indicated streetcar platforms, but have never been able to confirm this. I would love to build an collection of photos of these lamps. Please link your own or message the admin to email. Please include location (intersection and neighborhood) info, and your

name if you would like the photo credited. I will also (enthusiastically) accept photos of lamps stockpiled off-site, scrapped lamps, and re-purposed lamps. Notifications of the disappearance or demise of specific lamps are also appreciated.

The lamps got a feature on a website called Midstory, an "educational media organization" that seeks to "inform, interpr...
06/17/2026

The lamps got a feature on a website called Midstory, an "educational media organization" that seeks to "inform, interpret and inspire in and for the Midwest."

They’ve gone by many names: yellow lamps, for their warm glow; turtle lamps, after their distinctive shape; island lights for their tendency to show up on traffic islands across the city. For as many names as they have, relatively little is known about the lamps themselves. Cincinnatian Christophe...

Are any of these Civil Defense Shelter signs still around?
06/06/2026

Are any of these Civil Defense Shelter signs still around?

A little late posting this, but the broken lamp at Dalton and Gest reported on April 17 was repaired by April 20!
05/23/2026

A little late posting this, but the broken lamp at Dalton and Gest reported on April 17 was repaired by April 20!

Lamp down at Dalton and Gest. Can someone enter it in the service request? Link in comments.
04/18/2026

Lamp down at Dalton and Gest. Can someone enter it in the service request? Link in comments.

03/14/2026
02/14/2026
If only there were an elegant way to alert people of the presence of a raised area within the roadway.
02/09/2026

If only there were an elegant way to alert people of the presence of a raised area within the roadway.

Woodburn near Myrtle, 7/3/42. Photo posted by Phil Lind on Old Photos Of Cincinnati.
02/09/2026

Woodburn near Myrtle, 7/3/42. Photo posted by Phil Lind on Old Photos Of Cincinnati.

Ludlow at Spring Grove
01/05/2026

Ludlow at Spring Grove

Elsinore at Reading
01/05/2026

Elsinore at Reading

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Median Islands
Cincinnati, OH

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