We have arrived at Cleveland’s Lake Front on our Lolly the Trolley tour. Cleveland is situated on the South Shore of Lake Erie. At one time Lake Erie was too polluted to swim in safely. It has been cleaned up, the water is blue and clear and it is very safe for swimming now.

There is much to see and do along Cleveland’s Shoreline and we will visit some of the high spots. He is a mural that actually depicts the ocean, but, I thought the yellow machinery was interesting against the blue of the whales.

Cleveland’s skyline becomes visible again as the trolley parallels the highway.

And once again my personal fav Cleveland building comes into view.

There are a variety of tributes along the shoreline and the first one we come to is a Navy Blue Angel and an Army Thunderbird. Both were dedicated at Aviation Heritage Plaza in 1997 at the Cleveland Air Show in honor of the Burke Lakefront Airport’s 50th anniversary. Only the Blue Angel was caught by the camera. They fly every year at the air show here over Labor Day.

The next tribute is the USS Cod. It is a retired World War II SS-224 submarine and the only one that has been kept intact. You can tour it and climb the vertical ladders through the hatches just like the sailors did during the war.
The USS Cod is a National Historic Site.

There are many places to tour along Cleveland’s Lakefront, the most famous being the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is a fascinating place. I’ve been 3 times, once with 3 different generations. All 3 generations found many things of interest to enjoy. I would go again as, along with permanent displays, there are ever-changing ones. You see something different or something you missed every trip. This is the back of the building. I like this photo because of the soaring gull.

And here’s the front of the building.

Lake Erie is a busy, commercial waterway. It can be reached from the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Lake Erie is famous for its freighters. From fields and mines, the boats haul raw materials such as iron ore, grain, coal, salt and limestone to the industrial areas around the lake. Termed “boats,” these huge vessels are actually classified as ships. Because of ice in winter, the freighters do not generally run year around. They dock in places like the Huron River for maintenance while the crew spends this time ashore.

The NASA Glenn Visitor Center along Cleveland’s waterfront is housed within the Great Lakes Science Center. A child of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, the displays reflect research conducted at the center on designs, development and testing of innovative technology for aeronautics and space flight. The research center was founded in 1941. The name was changed in 1999 to honor pioneer astronaut John Glenn who is an Ohio native and was also a US Senator. Mr. Glenn is now 95 years young. You can take the tour at this fascinating visitor’s facility. You can also tour the science center. It’s a great place for kids and adults alike!

The next tribute along the lakefront is the Cleveland Fire Fighters Memorial. This beautiful fiberglass statue is of two firefighters dousing a large blaze. The statue was created by sculptor Louis Jimenez and was dedicated in 2007. The Cleveland Fire Fighters Memorial Fund was established in 1993 with the purpose of building this memorial to honor the 77 Cleveland Fire Fighters who gave their lives in the line of duty. Their names are engraved on the base of the statue. The memorial sculpture is showing signs of structural flaws and donations to this memorial fund are being accepted in order to repair the damage. Learn more on the website: http://www.clevelandfirememorial.com/

The Cleveland Clinic Omnimax Theater, now called the Cleveland Clinic Dome Theater, is housed at the Science Center also. It was recently completely remodeled to become the first laser-illuminated giant dome theater. From their website: “The documentary films we show immerse you in breathtaking new perspectives on our world and our future. We are especially proud of the strong impact our documentary films have in inspiring an interest in science and technology related careers.”

Cleveland’s Historic Lighthouse has about the most complicated history I’ve ever come across. It was built here, there and just about everywhere at one time or another. Wooden structures, iron structures, brick structures, there were many. The Cleveland Harbor Pierhead Lighthouse was lit on March 25, 1911, and still stands today. Located on the eastern end of the extended western breakwater, it is now named Cleveland Harbor Main Entrance Lighthouse. The lighthouse has been electrified and automated but still helps guide ships and boats to safety inside the break walls protecting the harbor and mouth of the Cuyahoga River. Cuyahoga is the Mohawk word for “crooked,” and, true to its name, the Cuyahoga twists and turns all the way to Lake Erie. In December of 2010 the lighthouse made national and international news when the freezing temperatures combined with the wind-induced waves caused the entire structure to become encrusted with a thick layer of ice.

Watch for more Cleveland Rocks in the future!