9 Truly Bizarre Moments In Cleveland History You Probably Never Knew About

When Booth took the stage at the Academy of Music in December of 1863, locals were enamored with his performance and raved about his skills. Less than two years later, Clevelanders might have recognized his name after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

This whale of a mystery isn't all that mysterious, nor is it unique to Cleveland. This stunning mural is one of 100 life-size marine paintings by Robert Wyland. These "Whaling Walls," as they are collectively known, are aimed at sparking an interest in marine preservation. Since painting number 75 was dedicated in Cleveland, locals have been wondering what whales are doing on Lake Erie's coast, and we Clevelanders really can't stop talking about it. Wyland's wales can be found in 79 cities across the globe, with paintings on five continents.

In 1967, King became a regular visitor to Cleveland in response to episodes of violence and vandalism in black communities. The leader and activist took a particular interest in educating young people, and he appeared at schools to instruct students to strive to learn and understand instead of pursuing destructive behaviors. During this time Mayor Ralph Locher accused King of being an extremist, and King returned to the city with a plan to further help improve upon local civil rights. He even urged locals to vote as Carl Stokes campaigned, and his efforts helped earn Stokes the honor of being the first African American mayor of a major American city.

Ohio outlawed booze a full six months before the rest of the nation followed its example, When Prohibition was officially repealed, Ohio voters still had to vote on their state's decision to remain dry. Congress repealed Prohibition on February 20, 1933, and Ohio passed its own repeal in December. Pictured here are guests celebrating the repeal of Prohibition at the Hollenden Hotel in April. Purportedly, alcohol was easy to come by in Cleveland throughout Prohibition.