Great Lakes Exposition

Historical sketch courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

The Great Lakes Exposition of 1936 and 1937 was held in Cleveland, Ohio. It provided Clevelanders with relief from the dreariness of the Great Depression and helped them celebrate the centennial of Cleveland's incorporation as a city. The exposition was the idea of Frank J. Ryan and Lincoln G. Dickey, the city's first public hall commissioner.

Dudley S. Blossom became chairman of a civic committee that contributed $1.5 million to transform the idea into reality. Built on land extending along the lakefront from West 3rd Street to about East 20th Street, the 135-acre exposition also incorporated the Mall area, Public Hall, and Municipal Stadium. Work began in April 1936, and in just 80 days the exposition opened to the public on June 27, 1936 for a 100-day run. Among the attractions which drew 4 million visitors to the lakefront that year were a "Streets of the World" district that featured 200 cafes and bazaars reminiscent of the countries they represented, a midway with rides and sideshows, a Court of the Presidents, a Hall of Progress, an Automotive Building, an art gallery, a Marine Theater, and horticultural gardens. The 1937 season opened on May 29 with a new attraction which became its most popular feature: an Aquacade that featured water ballet shows and starred Eleanor Holm and Johnny Weismuller. By the time the second season came to an end on September 15, nearly $70 million had been spent by approximately 7 million exposition visitors over the 2 years. The only vestiges of the festival remaining in 1995 were the Donald Gray Gardens directly north of the stadium.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Great Lakes Exposition

From the guide to the Great Lakes Exposition Photographs, 1936-1937, (Western Reserve Historical Society)