
A breath of fresh air and the open road does us all good every now and then. For anyone trying to balance the need to maintain distance from others with a desire to get out and explore, a scenic drive might be just the answer.
If that sounds like you, then Northeast Ohio is a great place to be. Be sure to check out these amazing historical buildings on your driving tour in the Cleveland area!
4308 Franklin Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44113
View this post on Instagram
Commonly known as Franklin Castle, the Tiedemann House has overlooked Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood from its perch on the north side of Franklin Boulevard for more than 125 years. This spectacular stone mansion is a prime example of Victorian architecture in the American Queen Anne Style, complete with turrets, gargoyles, and more than 80 windows. The Tiedemann House also has more than 20 rooms, including a ballroom that runs the entire length of the fourth floor. The house is rumored to be haunted and also to include as-yet-undiscovered secret rooms and passageways used by bootleggers during prohibition.
91 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113
View this post on Instagram
The Old Stone Church looks oddly out of place among the high rises that surround it in present-day Downtown Cleveland. It wasn't always that way. Cleveland was a very different city when this Presbyterian church was first dedicated in 1834. But even as time has moved on all around it, the Old Stone Church remains virtually unchanged. It's the oldest building on Public Square and the second-oldest church within the city limits. No visit to Cleveland is complete without taking some time to admire this incredible piece of living history.
614 W Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
A memorable high-rise office building in Downtown Cleveland, the Rockefeller Building was built between 1903 and 1905. Seventeen stories tall and massively wide, the building was one of the city's most imposing structures at the time of its completion. The famous American business magnate John D. Rockefeller oversaw the construction of the building, which partly swallowed up the Weddell House, its historical neighbor. The Rockefeller family sold the building to Cleveland businessman Josiah Kirby in 1920, only to buy it back shortly thereafter to prevent the name "Rockefeller" from being removed.
2203 River Road #9685, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094
View this post on Instagram
Nestled in the quiet Cleveland suburb of Willoughby Hills, the Louis Penfield House was built in 1955 and designed by none other than famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. With its floating staircase and several walls made entirely of windows, the house has a number of features typical of Wright's unique architectural vision. Many of those windows offer incredible views across the home's 30-acre plot to the Chagrin River. And while there are a handful of Frank Lloyd Wright homes scattered across Northeast Ohio, the Louis Penfield House is the only one where guests can spend the night.
50 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113
View this post on Instagram
One of Cleveland's signature landmarks, the 52-story Terminal Tower was formally dedicated in 1930, after a long process of demolition, excavation, and construction that lasted four years. Built during the peak of the "skyscraper boom" in the '20s and '30s, Terminal Tower was the second-tallest building in the world when it opened its doors. Today, it's the second-tallest building in Cleveland (after Key Tower), and it remains one of the city's most recognizable structures, with hundreds of LED lights that illuminate the building's iconic spire in different colors throughout the year.
6709 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103
View this post on Instagram
Dunham Tavern is the oldest building in Cleveland. Originally built as a private residence by the Rufus and Jane Pratt Dunham family in 1824, the structure was expanded with the addition of a taproom. It was used for many years as a tavern and stagecoach stop, gradually falling into disrepair until it was purchased and restored by landscape architect A. Donald Gray in 1932. Dunham Tavern was then re-opened as a museum, which it remains to this day. Visiting the Dunham Tavern Museum is like stepping back in time, offering an unmatched glimpse into a time when Ohio was at the very edge of the Western frontier.
331 Market Ave. S, Canton, OH 44702
View this post on Instagram
Built in 1841 by the grandfather of Ida Saxton McKinley—first lady and wife of President William McKinley—the Saxton McKinley House is a beautiful Victorian building in Canton, Ohio. With its expansive porch and irregular massing, this incredible three-story brick house was Ida's childhood home. The couple lived there for years prior to his election as president and the house served as a stage for William's campaign. Today, it's the only surviving home with direct ties to the McKinleys in their hometown of Canton. The Saxton McKinley House is managed as a First Ladies National Historic Site and is home to the National First Ladies Library.
3649 E. 65th St., Cleveland, OH 44105
View this post on Instagram
Cleveland offers no shortage of spectacular churches, but few can match the grandeur of the St. Stanislaus Church. Known by the full name Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, the church was built in 1873 and served Cleveland's growing Polish Catholic community. Many Polish immigrants settled in the part of Cleveland known then as Warszawa—today it's called Slavic Village—and the splendid architecture of St. Stanislaus Church was as prominent then as it is today. The church itself, as well as its surrounding neighborhood, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Northeast Ohio offers a rich history of architecture dating back centuries. Did we forget to mention your favorite Cleveland area landmark? Let us know in the comments section!