Cleveland, Ohio: A Travel Guide

The Cleveland that inspired a thousand disparaging jokes, from a flammable river to a flammable mayor's wig, the city that was once called the "Mistake by the Lake," has moved on. Today, Cleveland has a nice blend of well-preserved history which nicely contrasts the new and modern Cleveland that has emerged over the last 15 years. For the traveler, Cleveland provides a fun and friendly atmosphere with a nice combination of sites that are thoroughly Cleveland.

Three of the most popular sites in Cleveland are located in downtown Cleveland along the shores of Lake Erie. There is, of course, the famous Rock and Roll Museum, designed by I.M. Pei in his customary style of blending ancient shapes with modern materials and sensibilities. Those who love Rock and Roll will love this museum, but it has been criticized by some for its haphazard pattern of exhibitions and confusing floor plan. Next to it is a very unique museum called the Great Lakes Science Center. The museum's aim is to explore the interdependence of science, technology, and the environment with an emphasis on the Great Lakes Region. And then there is the recently opened Cleveland Brown Stadium, home to the Cleveland Browns football team. Its stadium is open to the public for tours April - November. Reservations are required.

University Circle is also an area of a great interest. This is where the Cleveland Museum of Art is located. The museum is undergoing a major renovation and expansion project at the moment, but it is still opened to the public. One of its special holdings is a damaged cast of Rodin's The Thinker. In 1970, a protester vandalized the cast, and it was subsequently decided to not repair the damage but to leave on display as is. It makes for a very interesting exhibit. University Circle takes its name from Case Western Reserve University, one of the nation's finer academic universities. On its campus is one of Cleveland's more interesting example of modern architecture, the Peter B. Lewis Building, designed by Frank Gehry in his trademark Gehry-esque style. On the weekends, 30-minute guided tours are available. Behind it, there is also a sculpture garden designed by Philip Johnson.

A must-see site is a building called the Arcade. One of the more historic buildings in Cleveland, the Arcade dates to 1890. A major retail and dining center with a five-story atrium and two nine-story towers, the Arcade was the first building in Cleveland to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, its anchor tenant is the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The two tallest buildings in Cleveland are the Key Tower and the Terminal Tower. The 57 story Key Tower was designed by Cesar Pelli and dates to 1991 and is considered to be the tallest building between New York and Chicago. The Terminal Tower is considered by many to be the most important landmark building in Cleveland. Built as part of the Union rail terminal station in 1930, it was, at 52 stories and 708 feet, the tallest building in the world outside of New York City until the Prudential Tower was constructed in Boston in 1965. Its observation deck was once the best place to get a bird's eye view of Cleveland, but it was closed in the aftermath of 9/11. Hopefully, it will open again.

Cleveland has a large Slavic community, and an excursion to Slavic Village may be worth a trip. Largely divided into two separate areas, Slavic Village consists of the Czech Karlin neighborhood and the Polish Warszawa neighborhood. The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, dating to 1891, is a good example of what is known as the Polish Cathedral style of architecture.

One might be surprised to learn it, but Cleveland can boast to having the second largest theatre complex in the United States. Known as the Playhouse Square Center, it is located in downtown Cleveland and consists of eight historic theatres, dating to the 1920s, that have been recently renovated and fully modernized. All sort of entertainment can be found, from ballet and opera, to jazz and popular music. Broadway shows are common, as are live performances by the countries leading stand-up comedians.

Also of note is the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, which is home to a museum dedicated to the history of space flight, and specifically, astronaut John Glenn. There are many interactive exhibits, so the kids will love it.