African American Cultural Garden (cont.) (21st Century) by Afro-American Cultural GardenDestination Cleveland
African American Cultural Garden
Located within the Cleveland Cultural Gardens in University Circle, architect Daniel Bickerstaff designed this space to convey the past, present and future of the African American community, as well as promote the education and interest of its culture and heritage.
Karamu House (21st Century) by Kayla LupeanDestination Cleveland
Karamu House
Cleveland is an epicenter of arts and culture, boasting the nation’s oldest African American theatre. Karamu House featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Karamu House (cont.) (21st Century) by Kayla LupeanDestination Cleveland
Karamu House
Located in the Fairfax neighborhood, Karamu offers a full lineup of professional theater productions and arts programming while honoring the Black experience.
Station Hope at St. John’s Episcopal Church (21st Century) by Matt ProvoltDestination Cleveland
Station Hope at St. John’s Episcopal Church
The belltower at St. John’s Episcopal Church is where enslaved people hid before they crossed Lake Erie on their final leg of the Underground Railroad.
Station Hope at St. John’s Episcopal Church (cont.) (2019-02-20) by Inlet Dance TheatreDestination Cleveland
Station Hope at St. John’s Episcopal Church
Today the church is a gathering place for an annual celebration named “Station Hope” after Cleveland’s nickname on the Underground Railroad.
Cleveland History Center (cont.) (21st Century) by Cleveland History CenterDestination Cleveland
Cleveland History Center
Explore the past and uncover critically important stories through artifacts and exhibits at the Cleveland History Center. Search online through the African American Archives or add your activist-related story.
Cleveland History Center (cont.) (21st Century) by Destination ClevelandDestination Cleveland
Cleveland History Center
When at the museum, be sure to visit the Carl & Louis Stokes Making History exhibit, spotlighting two Black Clevelanders who made national history in the political arena.
League Park & Baseball Heritage Museum (21st Century) by Cody YorkDestination Cleveland
League Park & Baseball Heritage Museum
Long before Progressive Field, League Park was Cleveland’s resident field of dreams.
League Park & Baseball Heritage Museum (cont.) (21st Century) by Destination ClevelandDestination Cleveland
League Park & Baseball Heritage Museum
See the spot where the Cleveland Buckeyes clinched the 1945 Negro League World Series, then explore the adjacent museum packed with sports stories and treasures from the lost Latin, Caribbean, Barnstormer, Negro and Women’s leagues.
Cozad-Bates House (21st Century) by Artography Studios and Press, Lauren R. PaciniDestination Cleveland
Cozad-Bates House
Locals can learn about Cleveland’s history in the abolitionist movement with a visit to Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center.
The building is the only surviving pre-Civil War structure in University Circle and now houses an interpretive center highlighting the neighborhood’s role in the fight to end slavery. Exhibits are organized in three areas: the national and local context for slavery leading up to the Civil War, stories of anti-slavery activists and freedom seekers and a space that examines the impacts of slavery still seen today.
Expressions of Black Culture | Public Art Passport
Throughout Cleveland’s neighborhoods and into the suburbs, works of art celebrating Black culture and commemorating moments and contributions of Black residents dot the landscape. Use this free passport to track your progress on a self-guided and self-paced tour of 35 works.
By now, you’re likely no stranger to Cleveland’s legendary status in rock ‘n’ roll history. And while the story typically begins in the 1950s with a white Cleveland disc jockey named Alan Freed — who is credited for popularizing the term “rock ‘n’ roll” on his popular local radio show — we know there’s more to that story.
Freed was actually playing the new Rhythm & Blues records released by Black artists — in fact, he was a champion of musicians such as Chuck Berry — and his show drew listeners from Cleveland's white and African American communities. Today, you can still experience the best live Hip-Hop, Jazz, R&B and Rock at venues throughout the city from Bop Stop to the Beachland Ballroom.
In Cleveland, take a deep dive into rock’s important connections to many legendary Black artists by visiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, exploring the city's music history, and learning about the lives and careers of Cleveland born-and-bred musicians.
For more information, visit www.ThisisCleveland.com.
