As more than 50,000 people descend on the shores of Lake Erie, images of Cleveland’s landmarks will burst onto television screens across America. Newscasters will cozy up next to the most picturesque sights the city has to offer.
Here's a look at some of the Cleveland's landmarks you will see on TV and social media this week.
>> Republican National Convention schedule released: Find out who’s speaking
1. Public Square
Cleveland’s Public Square received a facelift that was unveiled on June 30.
The revitalized square took more than a year to build and will host registered rallies and protests.
It cost $50 million to construct and features a green park-like space with built-in seating and a splash pad that will become an ice skating rink in the winter.
>> What happens at the Republican and Democratic conventions, day by day
2. LeBron James banner
LeBron James means a lot to Northeast Ohio sports fans, and this 10-story tall banner tells it all.
Hanging off of the Sherwin William’s World Headquarters, the company was planning to replace the King’s likeness with a more patriotic swatch of colors for the RNC.
But after James brought Cleveland its first major sports championship in 52 years (and after a public outcry), the paint company decided to leave the Akron-raised athlete's image on display.
>> 6 foods to try in Cleveland during the RNC and where to find them
3. Terminal Tower
Built in the late 1920s, the 52-story, 708-foot-tall Terminal Tower centralized the passenger rail service and is the cornerstones of the city’s skyline.
From its completion until 1964, it was the tallest building in the world outside of New York City at the time it was officially opened, and was the tallest in the city until 1991 when the Key Bank building was erected.
A multimillion-dollar expansion project created the attached Tower City Center in 1991. It became the epicenter for commerce and business in downtown Cleveland boasting stores such as Barney’s of New York, Fendi, Gucci and Versace.
But as suburban sprawl continued and big department stores faltered nationally, big names started to move out of the massive space.
Now many of the storefronts are vacant, and walking around the space feels more like walking in a 1990s museum of commercialism.
But there's hope for the space, as the city's population has grown 79 percent since 2000, spurring the revitalization of Downtown Cleveland.
4. East Fourth Street
Easily identified by its hanging lights, the pedestrian only street boasts some of the finest food options in the city.
Cleveland native and Iron Chef Michael Simon owns two restaurants on the small street including recently opened Mabel’s BBQ, a popular “Cleveland-style” barbecue joint.
On a normal weeknight the street has an energy that perfectly encapsulates the city’s progress: something both youthful and hopeful for what the future holds.
But as the RNC rolls into town, locals have been replaced by tourists (many of them wearing media lanyards) giving the place a more sterile and business-like feeling.
One of the street’s most popular restaurants, Greenhouse Tavern, was bought out by Twitter for the week, and a “Today” show platform was installed near the street’s entrance.
The street is inside the RNC security zones.
>> Viewers will have plenty of options to follow Republican convention
5. The Convention Center
Opened in 2013, the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland boasts 225,000 square feet. It will serve as the media headquarters for the thousands of reporters heading to the city.
It cost $450 million to construct the project.
>> Here’s what you should know about the Republican National Convention
6. Hope Memorial Bridge
Connecting the West Side to downtown, the Hope Memorial Bridge is best known for its four iconic 43-foot tall Guardians of Transportation sculptures flanking both sides of the bridge.
It was the sight for Sunday's Circle the City With Love event, a religiously-organized peaceful demonstration that welcomed tourists to the city. Clevelanders held hands in silence across the bridge to set a peaceful tone for the convention.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
