Today, Cleveland’s Terminal Tower has a history that’s deeply intertwined with that of the city. It’s a source of pride for locals and, quite frankly, it should be. The Terminal Tower is the second-tallest building in Ohio but, once upon a time, it was the second-tallest in the world. At 771 feet (or 235 meters), the tower is still impressive to this day… and in its architecture is a hidden story that deserves to be celebrated. After all, its engineers reached new and incredible heights.
When the Terminal Tower first opened in 1930, crowds were stunned by its beauty.
Erik Drost/Flickr Many Clevelanders already enjoyed a sneak preview by assisting during its construction, but to others, this Beaux-Arts beauty was unexpectedly stunning. At the time it opened, its massive height was challenged only by the 791-foot-tall Woolworth Building in New York City.
The project was funded by the Van Sweringen brothers, who were already locally famous.
“Jet” Lowe/Wikimedia Commons The Van Sweringen brothers were well-known in Greater Cleveland, thanks in part to their hand in modernizing Shaker Heights. Their construction of the Shaker Rapid Transit, which opened in 1920, connected the sleepy community to the bustling center of Downtown Cleveland. For a pricey $179 million, they started construction on the Terminal Tower in 1926.
Construction continued for a mere few years… and when the tower was finally dedicated on June 28, 1930, it was undeniable that Cleveland was an incredibly modern city.
Robert Linsey/Cleveland Union Terminal Collection Identifier: CUT3918-b When this photo was taken in 1928, Cleveland had already accomplished many firsts. Cleveland was already home to several stunning arcades, with the Old Arcade considered by many to be the world’s first shopping mall. However, the building had already quietly opened to tenants in 1928. Within two years, its external lighting was revealed, and its strobe light was bright enough to guide ships and planes.
While its strobe light and spotlights were impressive, the Second World War caused the city to turn them off.
Erik Drost/Flickr The tower remained dark until September 22, 1974. By that time, its iconic strobe light was replaced with standard aircraft warning lights. Today, its collection of 508 LEDs continue to paint it in a beautiful light.
The Terminal Tower remained the tallest building in the world outside of New York City until a Moscow structure took its title in 1953.
Erik Drost/Flickr Nonetheless, the structure remained the tallest in Cleveland and the entire state of Ohio for another few decades.
Of course, as engineering feats progressed, another local structure would become the tallest in the city and the state: Key Tower.
Erik Drost/Flickr When it was unveiled in 1991, Key Tower was known as Society Center. Key Tower is among the to 50 tallest buildings in the United States, challenged primarily by structures in New York City and Chicago.
It’s amazing to consider that the Terminal Tower was originally meant to be just 14 stories in height… but, fortunately, a little bit of Cleveland know-how changed that plan.
Erik Drost/Flickr Today, its 52 stories make it an iconic addition to the Cleveland skyline. The Van Sweringen brothers intertwined this design with their Shaker Transit vision by placing it at the nexus of Public Square railways, and they rounded it out by pitching the tower as something like a “city within a city.” Railroad tycoons hailed Cleveland as being a city of the future.
While various construction projects in the ensuing decades effectively dwarfed the Terminal Tower in the grand scheme of things, its legacy continues to inspire Clevelanders to this day,
Erik Drost/Flickr Iconic, beautiful, and arguably the most recognizable aspect of Cleveland’s skyline, the Terminal Tower continues to dazzle visitors to this day.
While the Terminal Tower may just be the second tallest building in Ohio, locals will never forget when it was the second tallest in the whole world. Heck, it was the tallest building outside of New York for decades after its construction! Truly, this iconic landmark put Cleveland on the map.
Erik Drost/Flickr
Many Clevelanders already enjoyed a sneak preview by assisting during its construction, but to others, this Beaux-Arts beauty was unexpectedly stunning. At the time it opened, its massive height was challenged only by the 791-foot-tall Woolworth Building in New York City.
“Jet” Lowe/Wikimedia Commons
The Van Sweringen brothers were well-known in Greater Cleveland, thanks in part to their hand in modernizing Shaker Heights. Their construction of the Shaker Rapid Transit, which opened in 1920, connected the sleepy community to the bustling center of Downtown Cleveland. For a pricey $179 million, they started construction on the Terminal Tower in 1926.
Robert Linsey/Cleveland Union Terminal Collection Identifier: CUT3918-b
When this photo was taken in 1928, Cleveland had already accomplished many firsts. Cleveland was already home to several stunning arcades, with the Old Arcade considered by many to be the world’s first shopping mall. However, the building had already quietly opened to tenants in 1928. Within two years, its external lighting was revealed, and its strobe light was bright enough to guide ships and planes.
The tower remained dark until September 22, 1974. By that time, its iconic strobe light was replaced with standard aircraft warning lights. Today, its collection of 508 LEDs continue to paint it in a beautiful light.
Nonetheless, the structure remained the tallest in Cleveland and the entire state of Ohio for another few decades.
When it was unveiled in 1991, Key Tower was known as Society Center. Key Tower is among the to 50 tallest buildings in the United States, challenged primarily by structures in New York City and Chicago.
Today, its 52 stories make it an iconic addition to the Cleveland skyline. The Van Sweringen brothers intertwined this design with their Shaker Transit vision by placing it at the nexus of Public Square railways, and they rounded it out by pitching the tower as something like a “city within a city.” Railroad tycoons hailed Cleveland as being a city of the future.
Iconic, beautiful, and arguably the most recognizable aspect of Cleveland’s skyline, the Terminal Tower continues to dazzle visitors to this day.
Want to learn more about the Terminal Tower’s history? Check out some photos taken during its construction for an unmatched look back in time.
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