Cleveland's Fine Arts Garden Is A Beautiful And Tranquil Destination All Year Long
By Nikki Rhoades|Published August 31, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
While Cleveland may have a reputation as a Rust Belt city, but this community is truly a work of art. In recent years, it’s become a haven for artists, but the community’s creative roots run much deeper. Historically, many early Cleveland residents had a taste for the finer things in life… just consider the Tiffany Glass chapel hiding in Cleveland’s most prestigious cemetery. There’s another stunning work of art hiding in plain sight, and it is a garden situated right in the heart of University Circle. No matter the season, a trip to the Cleveland Fine Arts Garden is an absolute treat.
As you approach the Cleveland Museum of Art, you'll find yourself greeted by the stunning expanse of Wade Lagoon.
Gorgeous and vibrant, this park has long been at the heart of Cleveland's most prestigious district. It was donated to the city by Jeptha Wade in 1882, 10 years after he had taken the steps to begin developing it as a park. Purportedly, he had always dreamed of the park hosting an art museum.
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The Lagoon is surrounded by Wade Park, which is sprinkled with works of art and perfectly-manicured landscaping.
Following the opening of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1916, Wade Park came to embody a number of beautiful features. The sculptures that decorate the park comprise the Fine Arts Garden, and it is an absolutely striking site to visit no matter the season.
Since the Fine Arts Garden was dedicated on July 23, 1928, it has only grown in beauty.
The Fountain of Waters, marble benches, and terraces of this park have aged like a fine wine. Along with the 12 signs of the zodiac, you'll find a number of famous statues here.
Can you imagine anything more appropriate to decorate the space leading up to the Cleveland Museum of Art? Here, you'll find stunning sculptures by artists like Frank Jirouch, Gaetano Trentanove, and Chester Beach.
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Through extensive fundraising efforts, this park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York City's Central Park.
Olmsted was able to bring to life an exquisite garden that, unlike many, only grows more beautiful when observed through the wildly different seasons. The construction of the museum had previously destroyed this landscape, but Olmsted was able to breathe new life into it.
Stretching from Euclid Avenue to the art museum, and bordered on by East Boulevard and Martin Luther King Boulevard, this stunning garden is truly the heart and soul of University Circle.
Culture is at the heart of University Circle, yet the Fine Arts Garden is doubtlessly an unexpected find. It's a little slice of paradise in one of our most cultured neighborhoods, and it immerses visitors in beauty... no matter the season.
Next time you visit the Cleveland Museum of Art, plan to spend a bit of time outside in Cleveland's own artistic landscape.
Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, 44106
The spectacular Cleveland Fine Arts Garden is gorgeous all year round, and it’s as vibrant as ever at nearly 100 years of age. Have you ever visited this lovely outdoor space? We’d love to hear your thoughts and see your photos in the comments!
