Between Rock and a Fun Place
Moses parted the waters of Lake Erie and climbed out of the Cuyahoga River onto the East bank of The Flats. No, he did not find any industry or bars, only a forest covered landscape that was ripe for the picking. He built this city on the flat top of the bluff that overlooks both Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. The reason for his land quest was to find space for those New Englanders in crowded Connecticut cities to spread out and put down agricultural roots where the soil was less rocky and there was room to grow.
While he did find the soil in Northeast Ohio contained less stones than in New England, Cleveland today showcase a different kind of rock, something old Moses could not have imaged. He came to Connecticut’s Western Reserve to get away from its rocky soil only to found a city built on Rock and Roll.
While the heart of rock and roll is in Cleveland, the heart of Cleveland is Public Square. This four-quadrant, park-like parcel was laid out by the city’s namesake, New England style, and it was used as a commons for grazing farm animals. Today Public Square is surrounded by the three tallest buildings in Ohio. I am sure Moses Cleveland would be surprised at how far his city has come.
Duck inside the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Southeast quadrant and you will see inscribed in the walls the names of Cuyahoga County residents who served in the Civil War. A quick scan of the list and you will notice that the last names of those soldiers and sailors reflect the Western European population that came from New England and settled in Northeast Ohio. Early in the twentieth century a new wave of immigrants, this time from Eastern and Southern Europe, came on shore.
Following the Civil War, a Great Migration of African Americans moved to Northern cities like Cleveland in search of better life. In the latter part of the last century people from Asia, The Middle East and Hispanic countries settled in Cleveland. The complex cultural fabric you find in Cleveland today is a reflection of those rich and diverse populations.
HISTORIC: Old Arcade / Hyatt Regency
HISTORY: International Women’s Air & Space Museum
OUTDOOR: Public Square + Soldiers & Sailors Museum
ROCK: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
SCIENCE: Great Lakes Science Center
SHOP: Tower City Center/Terminal Tower