Nela Park, The World's First Industrial Park, Is A Cleveland Historic Landmark
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 05, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland has a great number of historic homes and buildings. Our city has one of the very first shopping malls in the world hiding Downtown, and it features work by famous and innovative architects. If walls could talk, Cleveland would be full of stories. Alas, they cannot, but a few historic sites have had their stories preserved every step of the way. Nela Park in Cleveland, for example, has had its journey well-documented. Since the very beginning, General Electric’s Nela Park has provided work to Clevelanders and has worked to advance worldwide knowledge. Today, innovation continues to be the name of the game at this incredible campus.
General Electric's Nela Park is a familiar sight in Cleveland, but this mundane destination has a story to tell.
Nela Park is thought by many to be the first organized industrial park set aside solely for research, development, and industry. Its very construction helped lead to industry regulation and standardization of construction, one of many memorable feats accomplished at this unsuspecting Cleveland landmark.
Following the formation of the National Electric Lamp Association (NELA) in 1901, General Electric would go on to absorb the company and begin construction on its namesake park in 1911.
I know what you're thinking... yes, that's really Ernest Fox Nichols, famed American physicist and then-president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Oh, and the gentleman standing to his left? That's none other than Mr. Albert Einstein.
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This historic campus was recognized with an addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and such an honor was well-founded.
So much has happened at this campus over the years. As the world's first industrial park — which, by the way, cost around $400,000 in yesteryear's currency to complete — a site of innovation, and a very real piece of many Clevelanders' personal stories, there's something special about this park.
The unique landscape of Nela Park was conceived by New York architect Frank E. Wallis, mimicking the symmetry and clean lines of the Georgian style of architecture. For the benefit of its employees, Nela Park included green space, fountains, cafeterias, tennis courts, bowling alleys, and even a swimming pool. Who wouldn't want to take advantage of that?!
Don't let its laid back landscape fool you; Nela Park was designed for innovation.
Nicknamed "University of Light," this Cleveland landmark has spearheaded the production and testing of cutting edge lighting products — and it continues to today. It is, to this day, home to General Electric's Lighting & Electrical Institute.
The years have been kind to Nela Park, as this photo from 1963 demonstrates.
The changing landscape of Nela Park has remained chic and clean, and as features became outdated they were simply upgraded or given new life. Take the pool pictured above, for example. It was originally in place to fight fires if such misfortune ever occurred, but it was outfitted with a spectacular fountain by the time this photo was taken.
In addition to continuing to further the advancement of lighting and other electrical innovation, Nela Park maintains another tradition as well: its annual holiday lights display!
The annual lights display at Nela Park got its start during the Roaring Twenties. Today, Nela Park continues its traditional Christmas lights display year after year. The most magical thing about this annual event is that their collection has slowly grown to include all sorts of vintage designs, with some light displays dating back to the 1920s.
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The landscape that lies just behind these gates is one of Cleveland's hidden gems.
Who knew a historic industrial park could be so much fun? The past century at Nela Park has been full of groundbreaking innovation, and its future? Why it's safe the say that the future of Nela Park is bright.
Nela Park in Cleveland — said to be the world’s first industrial research park — is full of surprises. Its very landscape is something of a time capsule, but these photos capture its personality brilliantly. Did you or a family member work at Nela Park, or have you seen any of its iconic light displays? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
