From baseball to bars to bridges, Cleveland History Days kicks off June 19 with 11 days of programming that spotlights the people and places that built Cleveland.

Consider the first day of events, on Thursday: 

Cleveland History Days is presented by Canalway Partners, a nonprofit created in 1985 to “preserve and celebrate” the land around the first 110 miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal. 

The approximately 75 events planned over 11 days offer something for every would-be Cleveland historian. 

If you want to wash down your history with a beer, check out “Cleveland Neighborhood Taverns: A Pub Crawl through History.” It starts at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 20, at the Polish American Cultural Center on Lansing Avenue in Slavic Village. On Saturday, a similar tour begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Sokol Bohemian National Hall on Broadway Avenue.

Championship baseball? Yes, please

Sad that the Guardians are struggling this summer? At noon on Saturday, you can relive the success of the 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes. Strong pitching helped them win the Negro League Championship that year, and two historians will talk about the winning season at historic League Park.

Looking down from the Veterans Memorial Bridge to the red Center Street Bridge in the Flats.
Looking down from the Veterans Memorial Bridge to the Center Street Bridge over the Cuyahoga River in the Flats. (Mary Ellen Crowley Huesken / Signal Cleveland) Credit: Mary Ellen Crowley Huesken / Signal Cleveland

For an air conditioned outing, consider Exploring the Cuyahoga County Archives on Tuesday, June 24, at 10 a.m. at 3951 Perkins Ave. or on Thursday, June 25.

Other events involve exploring AsiaTown and Little Italy, peeking at Cleveland’s grand bank lobbies, examining how the Erieview complex embodies the style now called Mid-Century Modern and spotting summer fireflies.

A perennial highlight of History Days is touring the Veterans Memorial Bridge, also known as the Detroit-Superior Bridge. The streetcar level underneath is only open during History Days. This year residents can tour it from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, and again from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 27. Visitors will be able to see the original streetcar stations and tracks. Bonus: Great views of the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie.

Every year, History Days include tours of some of Cleveland’s stunning churches. Last year, Canalway featured the ornate Liberty Hill Baptist Church and its Tiffany stained glass windows. This year’s calendar includes a deep dive into the history of New Life at Calvary Church at 2020 E. 79th St. 

On Thursday, June 26, experts will discuss the history of the church, which was called Calvary Presbyterian when it opened in 1887. Some experts believe that John LaFarge created stained glass even prettier than that of Louis Comfort Tiffany. New Life features windows created by both, so visitors can judge for themselves.

Reflecting on the past, looking to the future

Canalway has been organizing Cleveland History Days since 2018. Meghan Paynter, director of communications, said last year’s events attracted more than 11,000 people. She said the planning committee starts its work every January.

The goal is to “connect people to place,” she said. “We want people to reflect on the past and think forward.”

She said it’s tough to choose a favorite event, but she did offer this: “This year, I’m really excited for folks to go on the new Canal Basin Park Walking Tour on June 22 and 27 to hear about the historic importance of the Ohio & Erie Canal to the City of Cleveland’s growth and to get a look at the new park plans for the area.”

The Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is participating in History Days for the third year, and Executive Director Greg Palumbo praised the event.

“We hope that by being part of the festivities, we can attract new visitors with other interests,” he said. “For example, we may have someone who is interested in sacred spaces and goes on a church tour take a chance on the Monument and discover our beautiful stained glass windows.

“There is something for everyone of every age and interest level,” he noted.

Some events are free; some have fees and require registration. For the full list of events, go here.

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