Reactions of cerium with carbon monoxide molecules in solid argon have been studied using matrix isolation infrared absorption spectroscopy. The cerium carbonyls CeCO and Ce2CO are produced spontaneously on annealing and they are photochemically rearranged to the CCeO and c-Ce-2( mu-C)( mu-O) isomers, where Ce and Ce-2 are inserted into the CO triple bond. Theoretical calculations indicate that CeCO is an end-on-bonded carbonyl with a quintet ground state, whereas Ce2CO is a rare dinuclear lanthanide carbonyl complex with CO serving as an asymmetrically bridged, side-on ligand. The CCeO molecule was theoretically characterized to have a linear structure with a singlet ground state. Evidence is also presented for the CeCO- anion and other cerium carbonyls with higher coordination numbers.