Cleveland is a wonderfully weird city. Our eccentric residents and eclectic designs have resulted in a city that is majestic, but also over-the-top bizarre. If you have ever casually driven around the city, you probably know that some of the more bizarre features exist in the form of roadside attractions. These weird wonders are more than conversation pieces, and the stories they tell may surprise you.
1. They Have Landed, 2350 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland
In 2011, a series of unusual plywood monuments were unveiled in a traffic island in front of the West 25th Street RTA station. These spherical oddities were designed by Loren Naji, who placed a time capsule in the largest "planet." On September 23, 2050, we will finally learn what could possibly be hidden in these wonderfully weird objects.
2. The Free Stamp, Willard Park, Cleveland
No list of Cleveland's weirdest features is complete without the Free Stamp. Located next to City Hall, it was originally designed for Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio). New managers found the statue to be insulting after it was constructed in 1980, though, so it eventually was donated to Cleveland.
3. The Cleveland Library Readers, 325 Superior Avenue, Cleveland
These super cute statues are almost kind of creepy. They sit outside of the Cleveland Public Library, bronze books in hand, waiting to greet visitors. These little guys were designed by New York Sculptor Tom Otterness.
4. The Politician: A Toy, 18th Street and Chester Avenue, Cleveland
This unusual kinetic statue is exactly what it sounds like: a jab at elected officials. Though it originally had a hard time finding a home, it has found a cozy lot on the campus of Cleveland State University. Its wheels and mouth move 18 hours a day, delighting visitors with its unusual appearance.
5. Venus of Cleveland, 801 West Superior Avenue, Cleveland
She stares wistfully toward the Cuyahoga River... or, at least, she would if she had a head. Venus of Cleveland stands against the Carl B. Stokes Federal Court House, a 37 foot bronze behemoth overlooking the city. She has stood at the courthouse since 2003, much to the pride of Ohio-born artist and creator Jim Dine. Look to the far right of this photo to see her shadowy splendor.
6. The GE Chandelier, East 14th Street and Euclid Avenue, Cleveland
Suspended 44 feet above Playhouse Square is the most unusual chandelier. Draped with 4,200 specially-designed crystals that glimmer amid Downtown's most glamorous district, this masterpiece holds a world record as the largest outdoor chandelier.
7. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 E 9th Street, Cleveland
The unique architecture of this spectacular museum makes it one of Cleveland's most recognizable buildings. I.M. Pei designed it with a glass double pyramid, a tower, and a weird cylinder thingy that overlooks Lake Erie. Though it is incredibly bizarre, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is also incredibly beautiful.
8. A Christmas Story House, 3159 West 11th Street, Cleveland
The last thing you would expect to see peeking out of the window of a Cleveland-area home is an iconic leg lamp, but that's exactly what you'll find on West 11th Street. This home was used for exterior shots in A Christmas Story, and today it is filled to the brim with props from the movie.
9. Smoky's Memorial, Rocky River Reservation, Cleveland
In World War II, a tiny hero hid in a foxhole. Smoky, a 7-inch-tall Yorkie, was adopted by GI Bill Wynne, and she would eventually retire with him in Cleveland. During her service, Smoky became famous for carrying a communication cable through a 70-foot culvert on a captured Japanese island. When she retired, she became the world's first therapy dog. Pictured here is Wynne and his companion, a small Yorkshire terrier that bears the same name as her predecessor.
To those who grew up in Cleveland, the city may feel mundane. The truth is, though, that it hides spectacular monuments with some bizarre backstories. What do you think is Cleveland's weirdest feature? Let us know in the comments!
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