The wings of the guardians, which wrap around the pylons, have reminded one historian of the guardian statues at Assyrian kings’ palaces. Egyptian Revival styles were popular in the 1920s, thanks to the 1922 discovery of King Tut’s tomb and the Art Deco movement’s embrace of stylized figures.Ĥ. Some observers see Egyptian influence in the statues. Also known as Mercury by the Romans, he was often depicted with a wingedģ. The wings on the helmets suggest who they may be modeled after: Hermes, the messenger of the gods and the god of commerce and land travel in Greek mythology. The Guardians of Traffic are Cleveland’s only large Art Deco monuments.Ģ. The angular parallel lines that run behind and below the Guardians mark the statues as Art Deco, the sleek modern style of the late 1920s and 1930s. Here are the best clues to Walker’s influences.ġ. Watson explained what the guardians symbolized, but not what had inspired them. Premier architectural firm of the time, with the guardians’ design. Watson credited Frank Walker of Walker & Weeks, Cleveland’s Henry Hering of New York City was hired as the sculptor, but the Art Deco style of the bridge was not typical of his work. Still, the bridge came in under budget, at $6.5 million (or around $90 million in today’s dollars). The bridge in 1927, before the Depression forced a return to frugal simplicity in public construction. “Great care was taken to obtain a pleasing architectural creation,” wrote Watson, “demanded by a public that is becoming more and more critical in this regard.” The spirit of progress in transportation.”Įach guardian holds a different vehicle in his hand, representing the history of ground transport - from a stagecoach, covered wagon and hay rack to a 1930s-era automobile and four Their name comes from Wilbur Watson, the bridge’s engineer, who wrote that the eight figures were meant to “typify The Art Deco figures carved in the sandstone pylons on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge have stood guard over east-west traffic since 1932. Business Hall of Fame and Community Leader of the Year Awards.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. And when it comes to comic book heroes, it is said that Cleveland is the real birthplace of Superman, the Last Son of Krypton. For example, there are interesting structures, like the Free Stamp, that you aren't likely to find anywhere else in the world. Surely, the locals know about most of them, but visitors are interested in learning more as well. There are actually quite a few things that make Cleveland so unique. What are some of the things that make Cleveland so unique? The International Women’s Air and Space Museum. ![]() The Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art.A few to get you started on your museum musings are: Some are more well-known, while others are hidden gems. 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. The next time you’re out and about, take a gander at some of these beauties: 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 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. What are some of the other man-made wonders in Cleveland?
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