Cleveland Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Cleveland

The Cleveland Trust Company Building, completed in 1907, stands as a majestic architectural landmark in downtown Cleveland. Blending Beaux-Arts, Neoclassical, and Renaissance Revival styles, this four-story structure was once the third-largest bank building in the United States. It is celebrated for its ornate exterior sculpture, impressive stained glass dome, and mural paintings, making it one of the most visually stunning bank buildings of its time.

The building’s exterior is adorned with a remarkable sculpture named Finance, created by the Austrian-born American sculptor Karl Bitter. The artwork features a female goddess of commerce and finance, seated regally on a throne, while other deities present her with products from land and sea, symbolizing economic prosperity and trade.

Inside, the building’s stained glass dome is a masterwork of craftsmanship. Composed of numerous double-paned glass panels, the dome displays a vibrant green and yellow floral pattern. At night, a series of small lights embedded in bronze rosettes illuminate the dome, enhancing its intricate design.

Adding to the interior's grandeur are the murals by American artist Francis David Millet. Known as the Development of Civilization in America, the set of 13 murals decorates the walls with scenes that reflect America’s history and development. Measuring 15.5 by 4.5 feet each, the murals include titles like The Norse Discoverers, The Puritans, and Father Hennepin at Niagara Falls. Millet painted in a simplified style with deep hues of blue, green, and red, ensuring visibility from the ground floor 40 feet below.

Despite the passage of time, the Cleveland Trust Company Building remains a significant part of Cleveland’s architectural heritage. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and continues to draw admiration for its artistic and historical value. Today, Heinen's Grocery Store occupies the first two floors, offering visitors a chance to experience this historic gem even if they aren’t there to shop. Its beautiful stained glass dome and timeless murals make it a must-see for anyone visiting Cleveland.

The Cleveland Arcade, located in downtown Cleveland, is a remarkable Victorian-era structure that stands as a testament to the city’s architectural heritage. Completed in 1890, the Arcade was officially opened on Memorial Day, May 30, 1890. It is recognized as one of the earliest indoor shopping arcades in the United States and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1975.

The Cleveland Arcade, designed by John Eisenmann and George H. Smith, was inspired by Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It features two nine-story office buildings linked by a five-story iron-and-glass arcade, with a striking 100-foot-high skylight made of 1,800 glass panes. This blend of lighted court and shopping street makes it a rare gem among U.S. arcades.

The Arcade’s architecture is characterized by its ornate interior and grand scale, with four levels of balconies encircling a 300-foot-long covered light court. The building’s original Hummelstown brownstone, Richardsonian Romanesque-style arched entrance on Superior Avenue remains intact, while the Euclid Avenue entrance underwent significant remodeling in 1939 by the firm Walker and Weeks.

The arcade itself is not aligned in a straight path; rather, it follows a 23-degree angle off the Euclid entrance, leading to a rotunda at the southern end of the structure. The verticality of the interior columns, combined with the immense glass skylight, creates a spacious and luminous environment that evokes a sense of grandeur.

In 2001, the Hyatt corporation redeveloped the Cleveland Arcade, transforming it into the city’s first Hyatt Regency hotel. The hotel now occupies the two office towers and the top three floors of the atrium area, while the two lower floors remain open to the public and house retail merchants and a food court. This redevelopment preserved the historical essence of the Arcade, including the replacement of the iconic skylight.

The Cleveland Arcade not only serves as a beautiful example of late 19th-century architecture but also continues to be a vibrant part of Cleveland’s downtown landscape, blending historical charm with modern utility. Its design even inspired the Peachtree Arcade in Atlanta, constructed in the 1910s, reflecting the influence and reach of this iconic Cleveland landmark.

Public Square, situated at the heart of Downtown Cleveland, serves as the city’s historic central plaza and has been a focal point of civic life since its establishment in 1796. Designed by city founder General Moses Cleaveland as part of the original town plat for the Connecticut Land Company, the square mirrors the layout of traditional 18th-century New England town commons. This 10-acre (4.0 hectares) space has witnessed the evolution of Cleveland from a burgeoning settlement to a modern metropolis and was recognized for its historical significance by being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Public Square was originally divided into four smaller squares, with Superior Avenue and Ontario Street crossing at its center. In 2016, the area was redesigned, unifying the sections into a pedestrian-friendly space by removing the Ontario Street segment and restricting Superior Avenue to buses. The northern side now has green spaces and a statue of Mayor Tom L. Johnson, while the southern area includes a plaza with a café, water feature, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, and a statue of city founder Moses Cleaveland.

Surrounded by some of Cleveland’s most prominent buildings, including Key Tower, 200 Public Square, and the Terminal Tower, the square stands as a testament to the city’s architectural heritage. Landmarks such as the Old Stone Church and the former Higbee’s department store—famous for its appearance in the 1983 film A Christmas Story and currently housing the Jack Cleveland Casino—highlight the area’s historical and cultural importance.

Public Square has not only been a hub for commerce and civic engagement but also a place of innovation. In 1879, it became the first street in the world to be illuminated by electric arc lamps, designed by Cleveland native Charles F. Brush. Over time, it has hosted numerous events, including political rallies and community gatherings, and continues to be the site for annual celebrations like the Cleveland Orchestra’s Independence Day concert. Its unique role in Cleveland’s development and blend of historical reverence and modern utility make Public Square an iconic symbol of the city’s past, present, and future.

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.

The Old Stone Church, located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, is a historic Presbyterian church and the oldest building on Public Square. Established on September 19, 1820, by fifteen Cleveland residents—about ten percent of the village’s population at the time—the congregation initially met as the Union Sunday School. It was formally incorporated in 1827 as The First Presbyterian Society, and the first church building was constructed in 1834 using local gray sandstone. This early structure introduced a suspended gallery and featured Cleveland’s first pipe organ, earning it the nickname “the Stone Church.” As more stone churches were erected in the area, it became known as the “Old Stone Church.”

By 1853, the congregation had outgrown the original building, prompting its demolition and the construction of a larger Romanesque Revival church on the same site, designed by architects Charles Heard and Simeon Porter. The new church was dedicated on August 12, 1855, but tragedy struck just nineteen months later when a fire engulfed the 250-foot steeple on March 7, 1857. Despite the damage, the church was rebuilt and rededicated by January 17, 1858.

The Old Stone Church has since undergone several modifications, including the addition of three Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows, a John La Farge triple window overlooking Public Square, and a Holtkamp Organ Company organ. In 1999, the church underwent a renovation that included the restoration of a steeple replicating the original design, and cleaning the Berea sandstone, which had darkened from air pollution.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the Old Stone Church remains a testament to Cleveland’s architectural and cultural heritage. It is also the last remaining church designed by the Heard and Porter architectural firm, standing as a symbol of resilience and continuity in the city’s historical landscape.

Cuyahoga County Courthouse dates to 1906 and features a Beaux Arts style. The exterior uses pink granite sourced from Milford, Massachusetts. Arched and recessed windows and doors with protruding keystones. Fluted Ionic columns and arched windows are over the front entrance, allowing a lot of natural light into the building.

Bronze statues of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, designed by Austrian-born American sculptor Karl Bitter, greet visitors at the front entrance. Daniel Chester French statues of Edward I and John Hampden are also present, as well as a statue featuring Alfred the Great. This artwork highlights the importance of the legal system dating back to ancient times.

In addition to statuary and friezes, the courthouse is also host to impressive murals that depict the application of the law from ancient through more modern times. Marble halls help provide more of a sense of grandeur and reflect the natural lighting beautifully. When you visit this courthouse, you'll come away with a new appreciation for what goes on in courts.

The Cleveland Mall, located in downtown Cleveland, is a landscaped public park and a prime example of the City Beautiful movement in the United States. Conceived as part of the 1903 Group Plan by prominent architects Daniel Burnham, John Carrère, and Arnold Brunner, the Mall was designed as a monumental public space flanked by the city’s major civic and governmental buildings in the Neoclassical style.

The Mall is one of the most complete realizations of the City Beautiful movement in the United States. It was intended to transform a formerly neglected area into a magnificent civic center crowned by a Union Terminal at its northern end on the shores of Lake Erie. Although the Union Terminal was ultimately relocated to Public Square, the plan remains a largely successful execution of City Beautiful principles, emphasizing symmetry, grandeur, and open space.

The Cleveland Mall has three sections: Mall A (Veterans' Memorial Plaza) with the War Memorial Fountain, Mall B, and Mall C (Strawbridge Plaza). The Huntington Convention Center, rebuilt in 2013, lies under Malls B and C and connects to the Public Auditorium and Global Center for Health Innovation. After construction, Malls B and C reopened as elevated green spaces.

The Cleveland Mall has hosted several public art installations. In 2004, Brian Tolle exhibited ''For the gentle wind doth move silently, invisibly,'' featuring eight styrofoam urns shaped by wind data from Lake Erie, which stood until 2006. In 2008, Peter and Alissa North’s The Verdant Walk added native grasses and seven fabric sculptures lit by solar-powered LEDs, remaining until 2010. After the Mall’s reconstruction, Stephen Manka’s City of Light was installed on Mall B in 2013, using programmable light to simulate flames, inspired by flower petals and turbine designs.

The Cleveland Mall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and continues to be a prominent public space in downtown Cleveland, embodying the vision of the City Beautiful movement with its expansive green areas, architectural coherence, and historical significance.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of Cleveland's most iconic attractions. When you go through this museum, you'll be introduced to rock and roll's long, diverse history. The Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall uses a combination of interactive exhibits, feature films, and plenty of music to enjoy, as well as reading materials.

Stopping by the official Museum Store is a great way to browse through the perfect souvenirs to take home. You can grab a quick bite at the All-Access Cafe before checking out the other exhibits in this area. The Backstage Stories exhibit provides a closer look at what life is like on the road. You can also see shows on the Klipse Stage.

A display dedicated to guitarist Les Paul is one of the most popular collections in the museum, allowing for a lot of interaction. The Hall of Fame, the museum's signature attraction, features a Signature Gallery, with such notable names as Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode, and the Notorious B.I.G. The Hall also features galleries dedicated to new inductees and those who have recently died.

The museum is host to a full-size replica of Pink Floyd's The Wall, which mirrors what the band used at their Berlin performance in 1990. You might even have the chance to catch at a performance at the Foster Theater.

Why You Should Visit:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great place to enjoy interactive experiences that let you learn more about your favorite artists in-depth. You will have chance to catch live shows or learn more about the backstage experience.

Tips:
Access the Your Tour feature on the Hall's website from your phone to decide what to see first.

The USS Cod Submarine Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, is a tribute to the sailors who served on this historic vessel during World War II. This National Historic Landmark features the USS Cod, a Gato-class fleet submarine that remains one of the best-preserved World War II submarines open to the public. What sets the USS Cod apart is its authenticity: visitors enter through the original hatches and descend ladders, as no modern staircases or doors have been added, preserving the submarine’s structural integrity and historical accuracy.

Launched on March 21, 1943, and commissioned on June 21, 1943, the 312-foot, 1,525-ton submarine is equipped with five diesel engines, all built in Cleveland, Ohio. Cod operated primarily out of Australian ports, completing seven war patrols in the Pacific. During these missions, she sank over 12 enemy vessels, totaling more than 37,000 tons, and damaged an additional 36,000 tons of enemy shipping, including the Japanese destroyer Karukaya. Cod’s service earned her a battle star for each of her patrols, but her legacy is also defined by her role in the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history. During her final war patrol in the South China Sea, Cod came to the aid of the grounded Dutch submarine O-19, rescuing 56 Dutch sailors before destroying the stranded vessel.

Today, the USS Cod offers self-guided tours that allow visitors to explore the submarine’s interior, marvel at its original equipment, and experience firsthand the conditions that crew members faced. Highlights include a fully restored Mark IV Torpedo Data Computer and a five-inch deck gun that can be rotated by guests and mock-fired by volunteers. On special occasions, the volunteer crew powers up Cod’s engines, giving visitors a rare opportunity to witness the machinery in action.

Docked permanently in Cleveland, the USS Cod Submarine Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifices made by submarine crews during World War II, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and the general public alike.