Take a Hike Tours

5th Anniversary

May 15 – September 15, 2013

The Take a Hike Program, presented by Dollar Bank, offers five, free, guided walking tours of five distinct neighborhoods in downtown Cleveland. Each tour lasts approximately one and a half hours in length and features actors and actresses portraying historic figures from Cleveland’s past. Over 10,000 people have enjoyed “taking a hike” during the last four tour seasons. Mind you, “taking a hike” is more like taking a leisurely stroll.

Entertaining and educational, these tours offer visitors and residents alike the opportunity to learn about the history, culture and future plans of each tour area. Geared towards adults, the tours also offer younger audience members the chance to explore Cleveland in a whole new way.
  

Pick Your Tour
  

Gateway District Tour

Every Thursday – Meet at 6 PM in the Arcade at 401 Euclid Avenue

Learn about the neighborhood’s historic dime stores, such as Woolworth’s and Kresge’s, the incredible Arcade, which was modeled after the great light courts of Europe, the East 4th Street Entertainment District, Rose’s Folly, the Caxton Building and more. Mayor Tom Johnson, Congresswoman Frances Payne Bolton or inventor Garrett Morgan may drop in for a visit along the way.  

The tour meets inside the doors on the Euclid side of the Arcade. Suggested parking can be found across from Quicken Loans Arena between Huron Road and Prospect Avenue, in the parking garage of 200 Public Square on Superior Avenue or in the 515 Euclid garage at the corner of East 6th Street and Euclid Avenue.
  

Warehouse District Tour

Every Saturday – Meet at 10 AM in front of Constantino’s Market at 1278 West 9th Street

Admire breathtaking architecture as you learn about the historic Garment District, hardware industry and beautiful Victorian-style buildings of Cleveland’s First Neighborhood.  Tour attendees may have the pleasure of meeting John D. Rockefeller or Levi Johnson along the tour route.  

Convenient street parking and parking lots are available along West 9th Street and along St. Clair from West 3rd to West 9th.  

There WILL be a tour on Saturday, May 25th of Memorial Day Weekend.
  

PlayhouseSquare Tour

Every Tuesday – Meet at 6 PM in the State Theatre Lobby at 1519 Euclid Avenue

Known for being the second largest performing arts center in the country, PlayhouseSquare boasts even more than incredible theatres. Learn about the past grandeur of Euclid Avenue, renowned department stores, such as Halle’s, Bonwit Teller and Sterling Linder, important social clubs, such as The Union Club, and the historic Statler Hotel. Visitors may enjoy special guest appearances by deejay Alan Freed or “Mr. First Nighter” Milton Krantz.

Convenient parking is available across from the Hanna Theatre on East 14th Street or along Euclid Avenue near PlayhouseSquare’s theatres.
  

Canal Basin Park in the Flats Tour

Every Sunday – Meet at 10 AM at Settler’s Landing RTA Station at 1025 West Superior Avenue 

Enjoy tales from the early days of Cleveland while learning about Moses Cleaveland, the Cuyahoga River, bridges, the historic B&O Rail Station and plans for a 25-acre park and the extension of the Towpath Trail. Be sure to bring your camera for some stunning photo opportunities. Mary Kelley may share stories of her husband, Alfred Kelley, the father of the Ohio & Erie Canal, during your tour.

Settler’s Landing is the lovely brick patio at the intersection of Superior Avenue and Robert Lockwood Jr. Drive. Take Superior Avenue down the hill into the Flats (Eastern Bank), and where it dead ends is where you begin your tour. Suggested street parking is located along Superior Avenue between West 6th and West 9th or along West 9th or West 10th Streets. Simply walk down the hill to the meeting point. There are parking lots along Robert Lockwood Jr. Drive, south of Settler’s Landing, although these may be unattended on Sunday mornings.

There WILL be a tour on Sunday, May 26th of Memorial Day Weekend.

 

In honor of the 5th Anniversary of the Take a Hike program, a brand new tour is being offered in 2013.

Civic Center Tour

Every Wednesday – Meet at 6 PM at Old Stone Church located at 91 Public Square.  

Learn about the Group plan, Old Stone Church, Veterans Memorial Plaza, the Board of Education Building, Public Auditorium, the Great Lakes Exposition of 1936 and 1937, Cuyahoga County Courthouse, the new Global Center for Health Innovation and much more.  Architect Daniel Burnham and Coach Paul Brown, the first coach of the Cleveland Browns, will be featured on this new tour.  

Street parking can be found in the surrounding area on West 3rd, Frankfort and St. Clair.  There are various parking lot options near West 3rd.   Upon arrival at the tour meeting location, enter Old Stone Church through the doors on Public Square.  

 

How to Take a Hike 

Show up for a tour, and enjoy! Reservations are not required, although groups of ten or more should call 216-771-1994 in advance. Donations are encouraged to help fund future tours. Tours take place rain or shine. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.  And, don’t forget to bring along your water bottle on hot days.  

The parking meters downtown are free on Saturdays and Sundays.  They are also free after 6 PM on weekdays.  Please read all parking-related signage on streets carefully to avoid getting parking tickets, especially in construction areas.

Take a Hike is presented by Dollar Bank.  Take a Hike is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.  Program partners include Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation, PlayhouseSquare, Bob Zimmer of Keller Williams, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Canal Corridor,  Ohio & Erie Canalway and WDOK Cleveland’s New 102

 

Private Group Tours

If you are interested in making special arrangements for a private group tour of the Gateway District, please contact Kelly Lange.  Private tours are offered for groups of twenty to forty people and last approximately one and a half hours in length in exchange for a donation of $200 to Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation. 
  

  

Cleveland History Resources

The Cleveland Memory Project
A searchable database presented by Cleveland State University Libraries

Cleveland Public Library
Check out Cleveland books, programs, classes and more. 

Cleveland Historical App
Free mobile app that puts Cleveland history at your fingertips 

The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
A joint collaboration of Case Western Reserve University and the Western Reserve Historical Society   

Western Reserve Historical Society
Society that preserves and presents the history of Northeast Ohio

City Prowl
Audio walking tours for your iPod, MP3 player, computer or other audio device