The Arcade is one of the most fascinating buildings in downtown Cleveland. Recently I led a private group tour of the Arcade and with the good folks at the Hyatt Regency We were granted access to the top floor for part of the tour. We got to see the griffins up close and personal. There are six different types of griffins that repeat around the base of the skylight. We also got to see the old cranks that would be used to open the windows in the sides of the skylight to help ventilate the air.
Arcades were very popular in the early 1880’s in Europe. It was said Paris had about 40. The Arcade was built here in Cleveland in 1890 and modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy. The building connects Euclid Ave to Superior Ave. Its skylight is as long a football field and contains 1,800 panes of glass.
Cleveland Walking Tours
This is another stop that is included on all our current walking tours – Downtown Highlights and Cleveland From the Inside. Our walking tours are offered year round! So whether you are visiting Cleveland or just want explore the great city you call home, check out one of our walking tours. Learn more, see our schedule and book your tour on our website, www.toursofcleveland.com.
