Downtown Cleveland: Lakefront City - Take a Hike Summer Series tour

The interactive walking tours are led by knowledgeable guides that will share fascinating facts about historical assets and key figures that helped make Cleveland a special place. You'll learn about architecture, cultural development, historic preservation, and Cleveland's role in American history. New development projects are also highlighted. Along the way, you'll meet important figures from Cleveland’s past, portrayed by actors and actresses, who will share with you their stories.

The Downtown Cleveland: Lakefront City tour meets at by the Otto Graham statue corner of W3rd & Alfred Lerner Way. Please arrive 15 minutes early as the tour starts promptly.

About the Tour: Defined by Lake Erie, Cleveland rises along the edge of a vast inland sea that has shaped its character, powered its growth, and anchored its identity for generations. Here, where the Cuyahoga River meets the lake, a vital passage helped forge the city’s destiny—linking Cleveland to global trade, industry, and the enduring rhythm of the water. That connection expanded dramatically with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1957, ushering in a new era of Great Lakes shipping and international commerce.

Today, that same shoreline is the focus of bold new plans—reimagining Cleveland’s lakefront as a more connected, accessible, and vibrant civic space for generations to come.

Character you may meet along the tour: Captain William Mooney.

RESERVATIONS are requested but not required, walk-ups the day of tour are welcomed.

TAKE A HIKE® is a program of Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation with generous support from Ohio & Erie Canalway and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

TAKE A HIKE® offers 32 unique in-person guided tours from May through December. Learn more at takeahikecle.com

- TAKE A HIKE® tours are free, however, donations to support the program are always appreciated.

Group Reservations - If you have a group larger than 8 people, please email Eileen at [email protected] in advance to reserve your tickets.

--------------------------------------------------

About the Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation - Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation (HGNC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting historic, cultural, and heritage preservation through advocacy, education, and programs that support the ongoing revitalization of Cleveland’s unique historic district. For more information, visit www.ClevelandGatewayDistrict.com.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation