Given the news that the Cleveland Greyhound bus terminal has sold again (this time for $1.7 million), locals are buzzing about this historic landmark. However, this is far from the first time that this iconic structure has been in the news. In fact, the historic bus terminal in Cleveland has been demanding attention since it was built... and it has quite a story to tell. Prepare for a trip down memory lane, because we're going to look back on the events that made this structure so memorable.
You may not expect a bus stop to be on the National Register of Historic Places, but this isn't your average terminal.
This stunning bus terminal on Chester Avenue instantly demands attention. It's built in the lovely Streamline Moderne style — an evolution of Art Deco — and is peak Americana.
When it was opened to the public in 1948, locals were in awe. They called it the greatest bus terminal in the world.
At the time, newspapers were buzzing about the structure. Streamline Moderne instantly captivates audiences, utilizing aerodynamic curves and perfect horizontal lines to reflect chicness and modernity. Interestingly, Greyhound seems to have embraced the trend, as terminals in Blytheville, Arkansas and Jackson, Mississippi (to name just a few) were built in a similar fashion.
This structure is the brainchild of William Strudwick Arrasmith, who designed several terminals for Greyhound back in the day.
Arrasmith designed over 60 similar buildings, each embracing the "streamlined" architecture of the day. Of those 60+ structures, only nine are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cleveland terminal is considered to be among the most prominent of his designs.
In the beginning, the era was reflected by on-site features including a drug store with a soda fountain and a barber shop.
When the terminal was unveiled in 1948, bus travel was almost glamorous, like taking a holiday by boat. At 250 feet in length, this structure provided plenty of space for spectators and press members to flood its newly unveiled interior. It was sleek, innovative, and downright breathtaking.
Today, many original elements of the structure remain intact, from its curved balconies to its terrazzo floors.
It's easy to see why this type of architecture was playfully called "ocean liner style" around the world. In addition to capturing the glamor of travel, it's evident that this style evolved from the economic woes of yesteryear. At times austere and conservative and other times elegant, this post-Depression architecture lacks excessive ornamentation and decoration in favor of chic, sleek, and smooth.
Of course, this deviation from more decorative architecture makes the structure stand out among Cleveland's historic buildings.
Throughout the city, you'll see sugary-sweet Art Deco architecture and Victorian buildings with gingerbread-style ornaments. This sleek, modern structure lacks those elements, and its light Indiana limestone exterior itself stands out in a world where local stone like Euclid bluestone and Berea Sandstone (like that used in Squire's Castle and Old Stone Church, respectively) is more commonplace.
While the historic structure is worth admiring from afar, you can also still visit it if you travel to or from Cleveland via Greyhound bus.
With 21 bus docks, the similarity to ocean liner travel is plain to see. Inside and out, the rounded edges so characteristic of Streamline Moderne are instantly eye-catching.
Here in Cleveland, even the most mundane features have a story to tell.
Local architecture is overflowing with fascinating elements and visions, and this local Greyhound terminal is no exception. It's a bit different than many Cleveland landmarks, but it remains iconic to this day.
This historic bus terminal in Cleveland has quite the story to tell, and elements of its creation story still hide in its gorgeous Streamline Moderne architecture. Have you ever visited the structure? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
Love learning about Cleveland landmarks? You have to see photos taken during the Terminal Tower's construction!
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