The 12 Oddest Places You Can Possibly Go In Cleveland
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Cleveland is weird in the most wonderful way. Our landscape holds all sorts of surprises, from architectural delights to quirky museums with unusual collections. This incredible city attracts people from all walks of life, and some of the greatest thinkers in modern history have found themselves in Cleveland at one point. If you’re looking to discover some of Cleveland’s most unusual destinations, you truly don’t have to travel far from home.
Airports are a portal into a city's culture. Not only does an airplane transport you to a new place, but it leaves you in the midst of a variety of local brands and icons. The Cleveland airport, however, offers so much more. They have a series of permanent exhibits that offer a glimpse into the artistic culture of the city. Visitors will uncover a likeness of Superman, a series of 10-foot tall Stratocaster guitars, photos of Cleveland's cityscape, and a variety of other unusual finds. Who knew one could learn so much about their own city as they are leaving it!
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Heinen's is a beloved grocery store chain that has served Clevelanders for generations... what could be so odd about a visit to a grocery store? It's the location that makes this store special. This fantastic market is located in the historic Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building, a Cleveland landmark on which construction began in 1906. As gorgeous as ever, this architectural gem has been restored to its original beauty and is once again open to the public.
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If you've never considered what happens to religious art after churches close their doors, this museum will have you fascinated. Located in the gorgeous former campus of St. Hedwig Church, this museum features over 200 works of religious art from Catholic churches all around the world. Statues, relics, and stained glass windows greet visitors, and each piece has a story to tell. Admission is $10 per person, and you can stop by Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
On the lovely campus of the Case Western Reserve University is a gorgeous library. The Allen Memorial Medical Library is striking from the street, but what lies within is certainly strange. This building houses the weirdest medical museum in Northeast Ohio - and its collections are not for the faint of heart. It is free to visit and take a self-guided tour, and you’ll encounter artifacts and pictures that will both horrify and fascinate you.
Lake View Cemetery is incredible charming, and its landscape is a visual wonderland that enchants the living and surrounds the dearly departed. One of its loveliest features is the Wade Memorial Chapel, and you have to see this gorgeous place to believe it. This chapel is one of the few in the world with an interior completely designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his studios, and it is downright heavenly. The chapel is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m each April through November.
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Hang with me, vegetarians and vegans, because this unique eatery caters to your diet, too. This local landmark is a beloved watering hole with over 75 beers on tap, but it is particularly adored for its incredible entrees. Hot dogs (and veggie dogs) are piled high with all sorts of creative toppings, allowing your taste buds an opportunity to mix it up.
While the idea of a volunteer private military company may seem far-fetched today, such companies were something of a necessity when this building was completed for the Cleveland Grays in 1893. The group assisted local law enforcement, and many members were in military service in a variety of different ways. Though private military companies were unable to officially participate in military affairs after 1903, the Grays Armory continues to serve the public as a museum, and this site is purported to be haunted.
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The Free Stamp is perhaps Cleveland's most unexpected example of urban art. This 28-foot-tall statue of a rubber stamp is on display next to City Hall, and its existence seems to have become a continual matter of debate. Coincidentally, its donation and installation were free to the City of Cleveland. You can find the full story here.
While countless historical relics were destroyed in Soviet Ukraine, it is incredible to consider that one of the nation's largest archives of Ukrainian cultural material is in Tremont. The Ukrainian Museum-Archives was founded in 1952, and its founders collected and preserved all sorts of fascinating historical mementos. Its halls host some fascinating exhibits, and their collections of art and literature will blow you away.
This neighborhood is gorgeous and enchanting, but it truly is one-of-a-kind. Nowhere else in the world will you find such a massive outdoor chandelier hanging over a street that still seems to be celebrating the beauty of the Jazz Age. This area was once even razed after decades of neglect, but now it is vibrant and recognized as the largest performing arts district in the nation outside of New York.
This museum of curiosities is just so uniquely Cleveland! Located in the scenic Tremont neighborhood is a friendly storefront that holds the remnants of a collection once gathered by Raymond Buckland, the first Wiccan practitioner in the United States. Visitors will find all sorts of witchy relics, ranging from pop culture knickknacks to purportedly powerful items once owned by the likes of Aleister Crowley and Gerald Gardner.
Cleveland may seem mundane, but its landscape hides all sorts of delightful and unexpected surprises. How many of these unusual destinations have you visited? Are there other odd spots that you would add to this list? Share your suggestions in the comments below!
Cleveland has an incredible culture and history alike, but you won’t believe these weird moments in local history.
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