The intricate beauty of an old church is simply unmatched by modern architecture. The design evokes the powerful nature of faith and hope through ornate wood and glass. While practically every old church is beautiful in some way, Cleveland is home to perhaps the most breathtaking of them all.
The Old Stone Church is a stately Presbyterian church in the heart of downtown Cleveland's Public Square. Built in 1820, it is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Cleveland today.
It's somewhat unusual to see such a large, intricate stonework building surrounded by the sleek steel and glass highrises of modern Cleveland, but it really starts to feel unique once you step inside.
Shockingly little has changed about this church since its construction nearly 200 years ago. Except for a few facelifts like electrical systems and fire damage repairs in the late 19th century, a visit to Old Stone Church feels like stepping into another time.
The stunning stained glass mosaics in Old Stone Church were handmade by some of the medium's greatest masters, like this piece by Nobis Studios commemorating America's bicentennial.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, but continues to act as both a historical landmark and the centerpiece of Cleveland's Presbyterian community.
Old Stone Church is a living piece of history right in the heart of Cleveland. In addition to being a testament to our past, it continues to be an inspiring and beautiful place to visit and worship in.
Have you been to this spectacular church? Tell us what your experience was like and share some of your favorite photos and memories in the comments below!
Today, Cleveland's Terminal Tower has a history that's deeply intertwined with that of the city. It's a source of pride for locals, and, quite frankly, it should be. The Terminal Tower is the second-tallest building in Ohio, but, once upon a time, it was the second-tallest in the world. A few decades later, the tower is still the second-tallest building in Cleveland and is impressive to this day... and in its larger-than-life architecture is a hidden story that deserves to be celebrated. After all, its engineers reached new and incredible heights.
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When the 52-story Terminal Tower first opened in 1930, crowds were stunned by its beauty.
Many Clevelanders already enjoyed a sneak preview by assisting during its construction, but to others, this Beaux-Arts beauty was unexpectedly stunning. At the time it opened, its massive height was challenged only by the 791-foot-tall Woolworth Building in New York City. The height of the Terminal Tower is a whopping at 771 feet (or 235 meters) - a very close second at the time.
The project was funded by the Van Sweringen brothers, who were already locally famous.
The Van Sweringen brothers were well-known in Greater Cleveland, thanks in part to their hand in modernizing Shaker Heights. Their construction of the Shaker Rapid Transit, which opened in 1920, connected the sleepy community to the bustling center of Downtown Cleveland. For a pricey $179 million, they started construction on the Terminal Tower in 1926.
Construction continued for a more few years... and when the tower was finally dedicated on June 28, 1930, it was undeniable that Cleveland was an incredibly modern city.
When this photo was taken in 1928, Cleveland had already accomplished many firsts. Cleveland was already home to several stunning arcades, with the Old Arcade considered by many to be the world's first shopping mall. However, the building had already quietly opened to tenants in 1928. Within two years, its external lighting was revealed, and its strobe light was bright enough to guide ships and planes.
While its strobe light and spotlights were impressive, the Second World War caused the city to turn them off.
The tower remained dark until September 22, 1974. By that time, its iconic strobe light was replaced with standard aircraft warning lights. Today, its collection of 508 LEDs continue to paint it in a beautiful light.
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The Terminal Tower remained the tallest building in the world outside of New York City until a Moscow structure took its title in 1953.
When it was unveiled in 1991, Key Tower - now the tallest building in Cleveland - was known as Society Center. Key Tower is still among the top 50 tallest buildings in the United States, challenged primarily by structures in New York City and Chicago.
It's amazing to consider that the Terminal Tower was originally meant to be just 14 stories in height... but, fortunately, a little bit of Cleveland know-how changed that plan.
Today, its 52 stories make it an iconic addition to the Cleveland skyline. The Van Sweringen brothers intertwined this design with their Shaker Transit vision by placing it at the nexus of Public Square railways, and they rounded it out by pitching the tower as something like a "city within a city." Railroad tycoons hailed Cleveland as being a city of the future.
While various construction projects in the ensuing decades effectively dwarfed the Terminal Tower in the grand scheme of things, its legacy continues to inspire Clevelanders to this day,
Iconic, beautiful, and arguably the most recognizable aspect of Cleveland's skyline, the Terminal Tower continues to dazzle visitors to this day.
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While the Terminal Tower may just be the second-tallest building in Ohio, locals will never forget when it was the second tallest in the whole world. Heck, it was the tallest building outside of New York for decades after its construction! Truly, this iconic landmark put Cleveland on the map.
And if you want to check out more Cleveland architecture (there's a lot of neat things to discover!), you'll definitely want to take a walking tour of our magnificent city before exploring even more incredible sights inside these fantastic structures.
I love exploring all that Northeast Ohio has to offer, but I definitely have my preferences and opinions when it comes to the best spots to visit. Fortunately, you guys help keep me grounded! Over on the Only in Cleveland Facebook page, we frequently ask questions about the best attractions in Cleveland, and you never fail to weigh in. In this article, we'll highlight some of the best tourist attractions in The Land, as specified by locals just like you. Whether you're looking for a way to break up an at-home staycation or just building up a local bucket list for your next day off, these must-see attractions in Cleveland belong on your radar.
To many locals, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is polarizing. After all, we literally had to fight to bring it here to the birthplace of rock and roll, and its founders and staff are, for the most part, not musicians. Nevertheless, there's a great deal of music history housed here, and it's a fascinating place to visit. From stage-worn costumes to coveted instruments, this iconic museum (which, by the way, was designed by architect I. M. Pei and mimics another of his famous designs: the Louvre Pyramid) has a great deal of music history immortalized in its collections.
As a violinist and passionate proponent of the arts, I wholeheartedly agree with this local travel suggestion. Whether you visit them at Severance Hall or Blossom Music Center in the summer, seeing this group is a treat like no other. (Obligatory callout — I saw them play the score to "The Empire Strikes Back" a few years ago, and holy cow. Such a cool experience.) In its last century of existence, seven music directors have conducted this talented, Grammy-winning group. This should come as no surprise, but our orchestra is world-class, often referred to as one of the Big Five of standout American orchestras.
The Cleveland Museum of Art is totally free to visit, and it's one of my favorite places in the entire city. It has a rich history, and its collections encompass a history that's even further reaching. In fact, Howard Carter, the archaeologist who found King Tut's tomb, was a part-time agent for the museum. In addition to housing fantastic collections inside, art is also spread throughout the surrounding Wade Park space in the Fine Arts Garden.
With 285 acres of beauty and 100,000+ permanent residents, Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland is absolutely a local landmark. However, this spot isn't like most cemeteries you might visit. As a Victorian garden-style cemetery, it's a bit like a park, and it's always packed with Sunday strollers, sightseers, and lovers of architecture. There are many incredible landmarks in the cemetery, from the Haserot angel to the Wade Memorial Chapel. It's easy to see why some Clevelanders have chosen to make this pretty place their eternal resting ground!
Growing up, I have many memories of shopping at the West Side Market. It's a staple for many Clevelanders, and it has been since 1840. The building that houses the market is a stunning Neo-Classical and Byzantine-inspired structure dating back to 1912, and it's filled to the brim with vendors. From bakery to fresh veggies to pierogies and cheese, there's no shortage of delicious treats awaiting you at this iconic Ohio City market.
Okay, so Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) isn't in Cleveland, but it is in the Metropolitan area, and it's a landmark every Clevelander and tourist alike should visit. As the only national park in Ohio, CVNP has big shoes to fill. Fortunately, its 32,572 acres of natural landscape encompass waterfalls, stunning gorges, sandstone ledges, and so much more. Plus, many of its parks are open 24/7, making them the perfect place to catch a meteor shower or a rare showing of the aurora borealis.
Lauded as one of the first modern shopping malls in the U.S., the Cleveland Arcade is a stunning structure built in 1890 at a cost of $1 million. (That's close to $34.5 million in today's currency, and boy, is it evident in the absolute grandeur of this space.) The building was modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, and it was funded by some of the biggest names in Cleveland at the time... including the likes of John D. Rockefeller. To this day, visiting this structure takes me back to my first time seeing it, at least that I remember. My Papa and sister were at an Indians game, but my Grandma and I decided to shop around the city. Walking into this structure as a very small child, it felt huge. As an adult, it still leaves me speechless.
While I think the entirety of the Cleveland Metroparks is worthy of exploration, no visit to The Land is complete without saying "hi" to our fluffiest, scaliest, and biggest residents at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. With 183 acres to explore, this massive campus has much to offer, including one of the largest collections of primates in North America. Since 1882, this zoo has only grown and expanded. Interestingly, it also served as a retirement home for Balto and his sled crew.
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Each of these eight unique tourist attractions in Cleveland are intertwined with the city's story and personality in some way. Are there any other local landmarks you'd recommend? Share your thoughts in the comments!
