The Great Lakes Exposition was held in Cleveland, Ohio, in the summers of 1936 and 1937, along the Lake Erieshore north of downtown. The fair commemorated the centennial of Cleveland's incorporation as a city. Conceived as a way to energize a city hit hard by the Great Depression, it highlighted the progress that had been achieved in the Great Lakes region in the last 100 years and indicated the path for future progress. Covering over 135 acres of Cleveland's lakefront, it featured numerous attractions: rides, sideshows, botanical gardens, cafes, art galleries, and much more. Similar to the Chicago World's Fair, the exposition also wanted to expose visitors to other countries' cultures, celebrate American industry, and promote local businesses. Although the Great Lakes Exposition was not as much of a world fair as the Chicago World's Fair was, the exposition drew 4 million visitors in its first season, and 7 million by the end of its second and final season in September 1937.
Construction
Frank J. Ryan and Lincoln G. Dickey, Cleveland's first public hall commissioner came up with the idea of the exposition. Dudley S. Blossom, a local philanthropist, became chairman of a civic committee and contributed $1.5 million to transform the idea into reality. The exposition was built quickly in just 80 days because of the available labor from the Works Progress Administration, and opened on June 27, 1936 for 100 days. A prominent entrance was at the north end of East 9th Street. The 135 acres incorporated the mall area, public hall, and municipal stadium, and featured a subway that connected the vast grounds with an area for pedestrians as well as for vehicles. The total cost of the exposition after two years was $70 million.
Attractions
Midway
The Midway was a big, central area in the exposition and encompassed many of the attractions including rides, sideshows, a Court of Presidents, an Automotive building, an art gallery, a marine theater, horticultural gardens, and a Hall of Progress, which had a television theater. Some of the more unique attractions in the midway were Admiral Byrd's polar expedition ship the "City of New York". The City was on show for the full length of the exhibition. The "Custer Car Speedway," a Venetian boat swing, and a "Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditorium" where oddities were displayed and sold.
Aquacade
Added in the second year of the exhibition in 1937, the Aquacade put on water ballet shows and was the most popular attraction. Stretched out to Lake Erie, the aquacade had a 5000 seat theater-restaurant where the audience could dine while watching synchronized swimming, diving, and performances by Olympic champion swimmers Eleanor Holm and Johnny Weissmuller. The show featured 4 episodes: "A Beach in California," "Coney Island," "A Beach in Florida," and "The Shores of Lake Erie". Although it was the most popular attraction at the Great Lake Exposition, it became more well known at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
"Streets of the World"
The "Streets of the World" was an exhibit created to expose visitors to other countries' cultures and featured cafes and bazaars inspired by the countries they represented. Food samples, entertainment, and goods from 40+ different countries were all provided on the "Streets of the World".
The exposition also feature some exhibits that would be considered today as politically incorrect including 260 pound ballerinas, a midget circus, a recreation of old Southern plantation life, and nude cancan dancers, who were eventually banned.
Celebrities
Celebrities were also present at the exposition to entertain visitors. Besides Olympic champion swimmers Eleanor Holm and Johnny Weissmuller who performed in the aquacade, track and field Olympian and hometown hero Jesse Owens, the world's most famous munchkin Meinhardt Raabe, Rudy Vallee and his band, Al Tomaini, and Jimmy Durante were also at the exposition.
Other
Another attraction was a floating stage on the current site of the Great Lakes Science Center; the stage was home to jazz concerts by the Bob Crosby Orchestra.
Post Exposition
The exposition was dismantled quickly, taken down right after closing day on September 26, 1937. Only the Donald Gray Gardens were left standing behind Cleveland Stadium until 1997 when FirstEnergy Stadium was starting construction. The total number of visitors after both summers was 7 million and was less than hoped for. Any plans for permanent recreation facilities along the lakeside were not achieved.
Conclusion
Although the Great Lakes Exposition gained some international attention, it never became a world fair. The area of town that was used for the vast exposition is now home to the Great Lakes Science Center, the Cleveland Browns Stadium, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Legacy
In October 2010, the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. opened an exhibition titled Designing Tomorrow: America’s World’s Fairs of the 1930s. This exhibition, which was available for view until September 2011, prominently featured the Great Lakes Exposition.
