History of the Cleveland Script Signs & Where to Find Them
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One of the first things I noticed after relocating to Cleveland was a big white sign spelling out the city name at Edgewater Park, a touristy park on Lake Erie. If you’ve ever visited the city, you have probably seen these signs in various tourist brochures. Just take a quick look on any social media platform, and you will see tourists spotlighting their photos. This is not a surprise as these signs are located at various scenic points throughout the metro. There are 6 of them total, the first 3 of which were installed by Destination Cleveland (a non profit visitor’s bureau) in 2016.
Signature Sign, founded by Bruce Farkas, makes all the signs. The point was to show local pride and to get both locals and tourists to explore more of the city. It seems like the plan worked as I see tons of photos all over social media. At times, we have had to wait quite a while to take our pictures. I recommend visiting during the slower fall and winter season if you don’t like crowds. You can learn more about the story of the signs here.
Seeing the signs is a fun bucket list challenge. Also, there are some nice attractions located near each so you aren’t wasting a drive just to take one photo (I have a highlighted a few fun things to do in the vicinity for each). Whether your day’s adventures take you near the iconic “A Christmas Story” house, beautiful Edgewater Park, or the iconic Rock N’Roll Hall of Fame, there is a sign just around the corner. Enjoy your time in the city (it’s so underrated!) and be sure to take a look at my favorite attractions to add to your itinerary.
Where are the signs?
I’ve provided a brief rundown of each of the signs including where to find them and nearby tourist attractions. If you only have time for one, I would say Edgewater provides the most scenic setting. It also happens to be the most busy for this exact reason. The least crowded in my experience was the Tremont sign. I’ve ordered them based on their date of installation, according to the visitor’s bureau.
Tremont
Location: 1502 Abbey Ave.
What else to do nearby: Support a local coffeehouse or restaurant
This sign is located in Tremont, one of the cities oldest neighborhoods. There are a lot of Victorian homes here and (thankfully!) no chains anywhere in sight. You can see the Innerbelt and Shoreway bridges behind the sign as well as Terminal Tower and Key Tower (the tallest building in Ohio at 947 feet). If you time your visit just right, you may be able to see some fireworks via a Guardians game.
This is my favorite neighborhood in the city. First off, you will find the iconic “A Christmas Story house here. I really love this tour (it was actually my first stop on my first roadtrip through the city over 10 years ago). After moving here, I found out that there are some great local restaurants and coffeeshops in this neighborhood plus a long lineup of events all year (I like the Taste of Tremont festival held in mid July).
As for the best coffeeshops, I recommend Roasted (I love the eclectic cozy setting and specialty drinks), Civilization (this one features a cozy local vibe in a historic building), and Rising Star (they serve the top quality coffee and amazing bagels). As for dining, I like Tandul (a low-key local Indian restaurant) and Rowley Inn (a fun pub serving great pierogies conveniently located across the street from “A Christmas Story” house).
Edgewater Park
Location: 6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreline
What to do nearby: Search for seaglass on Perkins Beach (located on the west end of the park)
To me, this is the most photogenic viewpoint in the city via one of these signs. I really love the views of the skyline and lake in the background. Sure Cleveland’s skyline is not that impressive but this is a super picturesque spot and I love the lake views. This is the first of the amazing Metroparks I visited and still one of my favorites.
There is a lot to do here including biking along the Lakefront Bikeway, relaxing at the beach, and my favorite activity – searching for seaglass (Lake Erie is an amazing place to find these former pieces of trash which now resemble gemstones).
One time after a major snowstorm, we captured this gorgeous shot with a snowy frozen lake background. It was so deserted and magical to take a winter walk this time of year! Be aware – it can get super windy and bone chillingly cold (and I am saying this as a native of Chicago – it gets so cold). Frosty temps aside, despite what most people will tell you, the Midwest is pretty fun during the overcast, snowy winter months (especially if you like sledding, ice skating, cross country skiing, & festive seasonal events). Mike and I had no problems finding fun things to do the entire winter season.
North Coast Harbor
Location: East 9th Street Pier
What to do nearby: Check out the famous Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame
You will likely see this sign if you are visiting the iconic Rock N’Roll Hall of Fame or the Great Lakes Science Center. You will see the Rock Tower and the Terminal Tower in the background. This is one of the 3 original signs.
On a side note, it’s not walkable, but i recommend pairing a visit to the rock museum with a coffee break at 27 Club Coffee. They compliment each other perfectly as musician Machine Gun Kelly opened the space in tribute to the many artists who mysteriously died at age 27 (now referred to as “the 27 Club”) which includes legends like Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse. It’s a cool place although a tad pricey.
Euclid Beach
Location: 16301 Lakeshore Blvd.
What to do nearby: Relax at the beach, look for seaglass
This is another picturesque backdrop although a bit farther than others on this list. That being said, I recommend visiting if you are looking for a nice quiet beach along Lake Erie. There is a nice pier and some picnicking areas. I’ve also found a lot of colorful seaglass here.
On a side note, I recently learned that there used to be an amusement park here. Sadly, it closed down in 1969. According to the Metroparks website, you can still see the footers from the Flying Turns roller coaster.
You can check out my full guide for more info on the best beaches near Cleveland.
Cleveland International Airport
Location: 5300 Riverside Dr.
Unfortunately, Mike and I have only flown out of this airport only once and we didn’t take any pictures. The sign is located near the baggage claim.
The Foundry
Location: 1831 Columbus Rd.
What to do nearby: Enjoy good drinks and food at a local brewery. Great Lakes is known for their Christmas Ale (I recently saw on a local news station that dedicated locals often take off work and wait for hours to get in for the First Pour event which takes place in October. The event includes food specials and live entertainment. I love seasonal beers and this one is pretty fantastic.
This was the last sign to be installed and the worst in terms of scenery in my opinion. Unless you are on a quest to see them all, I would rank this one last. There is a decent view of the lake and some buildings, but it is just ok in comparison with the others. The Foundry is a historic rowing and sailing center in the Flats section of the city. They offer both beginner and advanced classes if you are interested.
