Most Clevelanders Don't Realize That A World Fair Took Place Right Here In Town

Similar to its cousin, The Chicago World's Fair, Cleveland's own Great Lakes Exposition was meant to showcase innovation and international thinkers. It took place in the summers of 1936 and 1937 in the northern portion of Downtown Cleveland.

In the midst of the Great Depression, Clevelanders doubtlessly needed a little escape. The Streets of the World exhibit included international themes, and places like Florida Manor provided a tropical escape right here in town.

The White Motor Company was one of many area businesses with a grand display at the fair. Higbee's, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and even Sherwin Williams delighted visitors with unique booths and a focus on local industry. This, of course, put a heavy focus on regional pride.

"The legless girl" and the "tallest boy in the world" fascinated curious onlookers with their physical attributes, but these 260+ lb. ballerinas actually performed! As the 1930s came to an end, the "ideal" female image transitioned from tall, flat, and "boyish" figure to a soft, curvy (but not dramatic) one. Time Magazine even went so far as to offer proportions in 1938, explaining that a woman standing at nearly 5 feet 7 inches should weigh around 135 lbs... making these women a far cry from what was considered the norm at the time. If this "freakshow" style of entertainment seems politically incorrect, you should have seen the nude cancan dancers and the recreation of Southern plantation-style living.

In its first summer season, the Great Lakes Exposition drew a measly 4 million visitors. It nearly doubled that the following season, boasting a grand total of 7 million in attendance. To put that into perspective, more than 44 million people attended both seasons of the 1939 and 1940 New York World's Fair.

After two years of fun, the total amount brought in by this campus was $70 million. Despite the hard work put into its construction and the many memories made on the fairgrounds, it was dismantled almost immediately. The majority of it was disassembled on September 26, 1937, right after closing day, though small remnants of the event lingered. The Donald Gray Gardens, for example, remained behind Cleveland Stadium until the late 1990s.

From the Aquacade's water ballet shows to the Hall of Progress' television theater, there was so much to see at this ginormous celebration. A Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditorium was on site, and celebrities like Jimmy Durante and Jesse Owens were in attendance.

After everything was packed up, the most impactful remnants of the Great Lakes Exposition could be found in photographs. Though the event offered a glimpse into local industry, it would not return again to fuel the local tourism industry.