Veterans Memorial Bridge - Take a Hike Summer Series tour

TAKE A HIKE® offers FREE, in-person walking tours of unique and historic neighborhoods in Cleveland! Veterans Memorial Bridge Tour will be offered every Friday June - September, except for July 3rd. This special 60-minute tour is a one-way route, entering the bridge at the W9th & Superior Ave entrance and will walk the street car level, exiting at W25th Street.

Tours offered Fridays from June through September, with registration released on a rolling monthly basis. Beginning May 1st, guests can reserve spots for June tours, with each subsequent month opening in advance.

NEW! 3rd Fridays Monthly Take a Hike is offering an optional ticketed lunch + Bridge and River talk at Flat Iron Cafe. The event follows the tour 1:30-2:30 and includes lunch, presentation that further exoplores the bridges and commerce as it grew along the Cuyahoga River. Tickets are available and an option during registration.

About the Tour: The Veterans Memorial Bridge has so much historical significance and the streetcar level of the bridge is a hidden treasure. Experience the original streetcar stations, tracks, unique views of the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie and other nearby bridges.Construction began in June 1912 and opened Nov. 22, 1917. The Veterans Memorial Bridge was celebrated as the world’s largest double-deck, reinforced concrete structure and was a major hub for commuter transportation until the discontinuation of streetcar service in 1954. In 1976, the Veterans Memorial Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This tour is made possible with generous support from Cuyahoga County.

Guests can conveienlty walk the street level sidewalk back over the bridge to get back to the starting location.

Veterans Memorial Bridge Tour meets outside the bridge entrance on W Superior Ave just down from W9th Street. There are street meters and a surface parking lot in the immediate area.

UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS AND NOTES FOR THIS SPECIAL TOUR:

• ADVANCE RESERVATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TOUR.
• ALL REGISTERED GUESTS WILL RECIEVE AN ELECTRONIC WAIVER IN THE CONFIRMING EMAIL THAT MUST BE COMPLETED IN ADVANCE AND SHOWN AT CHECK IN.

• Note there are NO public restrooms at or around the bridge.
• The tours will be held rain or shine, it is a covered space.
• The streetcar level is clean, safe and very old. The ¾ mile length has remnants of track, subway lanes and uneven pavement so it’s recommended to wear closed toe, comfortable shoes. The route is also wheelchair and stroller accessible.
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your ticketed departure time as your reserved space will be voided and given to any walk-up guests beginning 5 minutes before the tour.
• WALK-UPS: Unlike other Take a Hike tours, this tour requires advance reservation and space is limited. Walk-ups can be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis ONLY upon a scheduled reservation cancellation or no shows.
• A valid ID for guests ages 18 + must be presented. Guests under 18 are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

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 45 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 6 people, please email Eileen at [email protected] in advance to reserve your tickets.

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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.

Image Source: Cuyahoga County, "Bridge Tour" 2023

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Host or Publisher Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation