Terminal Tower, Cleveland

Located in the heart of Cleveland’s Public Square, the Terminal Tower is a 52-story skyscraper that stands 708 feet (216 meters) tall. When completed in 1927, it was the second-tallest building in the world and held the title of the tallest building in North America outside of New York City until 1964. It remained the tallest building in Ohio until Key Tower’s construction in 1991 and continues to be the second-tallest in the state today.

Originally planned as a 14-story structure, the Terminal Tower was expanded during the skyscraper boom of the 1920s and 1930s. Built above the Cleveland Union Terminal, it served as both an office building and a transportation hub. The tower anchors the Tower City Center complex and housed tenants like Forest City Enterprises until 2018.

Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, and inspired by the Beaux-Arts New York Municipal Building, the Terminal Tower stands on 280-foot caissons, making it an engineering marvel of its time. The tower, part of the Union Terminal complex, opened in 1930, with tenants moving in as early as 1928.

Terminal Tower has housed various tenants, including radio station WCLV-FM, which broadcasts from the 15th floor. Its rotating strobe light once guided ships and planes but was turned off during WWII and only reactivated in 1974. Now equipped with 508 customizable LEDs, it stands as a vibrant symbol of Cleveland.

The tower’s observation deck, originally open to the public, offers breathtaking views of up to 30 miles on a clear day. It has reopened periodically, most recently in 2010, after a series of renovations. The deck can be accessed via an elevator ride to the 32nd floor, followed by a transfer to the 42nd floor.

Today, Terminal Tower remains a key architectural and cultural landmark in Cleveland, symbolizing the city’s historical significance and vibrant community.