For ages, the Cleveland Guardians of Traffic, among the best manmade wonders in Cleveland, have diligently overlooked the city. In recent years they’ve become more famous than ever before, in large part thanks to sports-related national spotlights for the various city professional teams. But these Guardians weren’t always so popular. There’s so much to love about these iconic Cleveland landmarks, and their history is arguably as unforgettable as their fascinating Art Deco designs. Come along as we step back in time with these charming photos:

1. Construction of Lorain Carnegie Bridge, 1930s
Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners/Cuyahoga County Engineer's Photography Collection Identifier: cea1231
Locals had been calling for a new bridge in Cleveland for nearly three decades when construction finally started on what we now know as the Hope Memorial Bridge in 1929. There's much speculation over who created the famous Guardians of Traffic and, fortunately, the Western Reserve Historical Society had compiled a list of the names of the workers that helped make them. Many of the sculptors were immigrants from Italy, and the sculptures were actually carved in Little Italy at a business known as the Ohio Cut Stone Company.
2. Last day of summer, 1932
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland State University. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections Identifier: loraincarnegie036.jpg
The eight Guardians are made of Berea Sandstone, which many say is some of the finest stone in the world. Each Guardian holds a different vehicle in its hands, which must have astonished the locals when the bridge was fully completed in 1932. Imagine how beautiful these statues must have looked to early drivers! They're every bit as stunning today and are a familiar and welcome sight for those driving and walking about the city.
3. A traffic jam in a winter wonderland, 1951
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland State University. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections. Identifier: loraincarnegie023.jpg
In the summer of 1951, local DJ Alan Freed had first uttered the term "rock and roll" over Cleveland airwaves. However, months before that happened, Clevelanders were recovering from a horrible winter and were, arguably, in need of a little pick-me-up. This photo was taken in March, just months after the previous year had brought a nasty snowstorm over Thanksgiving. As one of the snowiest winters the city had ever seen came to a close, the Lorain Carnegie Bridge stood proudly despite freezing temperatures and traffic jams. Hopefully, locals had a rockin' spring and summer after that unpleasant winter!

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4. Secret storage, 1966
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland State University. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections Identifier: loraincarnegie030.jpg
Once upon a time, the Cleveland Guardians of Traffic were actually used as storage! A newspaper clipping from the Cleveland Memory Project during the era noted, "Deputy County Engineer Arthur V. Dollard says there is nothing in the 8 ft. by 10 ft. recesses these days. In the days when the bridge was hand-cleaned the space was used to store brooms and carts and other gear." How's that for a historic architectural structure in Cleveland?
5. Time taking its toll, 1971
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland State University. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections. Identifier: loraincarnegie034.jpg
Other than routine maintenance, the bridge itself hasn't needed many repairs over the years. Here, however, the dirt and grime from years of pollution are obvious on one of the eight Guardians. This, of course, was years before the Hope Memorial Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Being listed on this register often qualifies landmarks for tax incentives, which makes maintaining and preserving the sites more affordable.
6. Bridge repairs, 1972
Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners/Cuyahoga County Engineer's Photography Collection Identifier: cea0185
The 1970s were a fascinating time in Cleveland... and, arguably, a sad one. The city was full of pollution prior to the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and local landmarks suffered as a result. The Guardians were no exception... they were dirty, and some called for their demolition in the tumultuous '70s. Fortunately, locals held off on carrying out that destruction and the statues were ultimately cleaned in the 1980s. Interestingly, this wasn't the only Cleveland landmark that was almost demolished after years of neglect. Playhouse Square has a similar backstory, too!
7. Overlooking Cleveland, 1983
Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners/Cuyahoga County Engineer's Photography Collection Identifier: cea1504
In the 1980s, the bridge was closed for three years for road repairs. When it finally reopened in 1983, the old  Lorain-Carnegie Bridge found a new name: The Hope Memorial Bridge. The name was a nod to the father of comedian Bob Hope, one of many famous celebrities from Cleveland, who served the city at one time as a stonemason.

The Guardians of Traffic in Cleveland are a fascinating contribution to the local landscape, and they’ve arguably aged like a fine wine. Today, these statues are so iconic that they’ve become a part of the city’s identity.

Have you ever seen the Guardians of Traffic in person? If so, what did you think? Did you feel “protected?” We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

Love traveling through time? Check out our article on the construction of the Terminal Tower for more historical photos that take you back to a bygone era.

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More to Explore

Out and About in Cleveland

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | December 26, 2022

What are some of the other man-made wonders in Cleveland?

The local folks may not think about it too much, and visitors to the city certainly may not be in the loop, but there are many man-made wonders in Cleveland. Each offers its own unique insights into the history and development of not only the city but other parts of the state as well. The next time you’re out and about, take a gander at some of these beauties:

 

We’re looking for museums in Cleveland.

There are lots of wonderful museums in Cleveland, so much so that you'd probably need a few weeks to be able to take time to savor them all. Some are more well-known, while others are hidden gems. A few to get you started on your museum musings are:

 

What are some of the things that make Cleveland so unique?

There are actually quite a few things that make Cleveland so unique. Surely, the locals know about most of them, but visitors are interested in learning more as well. For example, there are interesting structures, like the Free Stamp, that you aren't likely to find anywhere else in the world. And when it comes to comic book heroes, it is said that Cleveland is the real birthplace of Superman, the Last Son of Krypton. And then there’s the aeronautics angle, in that NASA uses the city’s Glenn Research Center for developing new space exploration and cutting-edge aeronautics technology. These are just a few of the city’s fun facts!

 

 

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Hope Memorial Bridge, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA