1. REBOL
2. 50 Public Square, Suite 1910
3. 3rd Public Square
4. 401 Euclid Avenue (The Arcade)
5. 530 Euclid Avenue (Euclid Avenue Opera House site)
6. 1260 Euclid Avenue (Theater Royal Society site)
7. Connor Palace
8. Hanna Theatre
9. Erie Street Cemetery
10. Southern Tier Brewery Cleveland
Our ghost tour of downtown Cleveland began at REBOL, where we gathered our courage before delving into the haunted history of this storied city. As the night fell, the shadows of Cleveland’s past began to emerge, revealing tales of intrigue, tragedy, and spectral encounters.
Our first stop was at 50 Public Square, Suite 1910. Cleveland, founded in 1796 by General Moses Cleveland, quickly grew along the southern shores of Lake Erie. As the city developed, so did its eerie stories. Public Square, the heart of Cleveland, has been a witness to many significant events and some ghostly apparitions. Late at night, some say they have seen the ghostly figure of General Cleveland himself, wandering and overseeing the city he helped establish.
We moved to the 3rd Public Square, where an unusual monument stands. Rather than glorifying the Civil War itself, this monument, designed by Levi T. Schofield, honors those who fought and worked for the cause. The "Goddess of Freedom" statue atop the 125-foot column is said to come to life under the moonlight, her eyes glowing with an ethereal light, reminding passersby of the sacrifices made long ago.
Next, we ventured to 401 Euclid Avenue, home to The Arcade. Constructed in 1890, The Arcade's opulent design belies its haunted reputation. Shoppers and staff have reported strange occurrences—unexplained footsteps, cold spots, and ghostly apparitions that vanish into thin air. The spirit of a former shopkeeper, whose tragic demise remains a mystery, is believed to linger, forever tied to this grand shopping center.
At 530 Euclid Avenue, we stood near the site of the once-grand Euclid Avenue Opera House, built in 1875. The opera house, long gone, leaves behind tales of spectral performances. On quiet nights, some claim to hear the faint strains of opera music and the applause of an invisible audience. The spirits of performers and patrons from bygone eras are said to continue their nightly revelries, unseen but felt.
Our next destination was 1260 Euclid Avenue, where the Theater Royal Society began performing plays in 1819. The site of the old Shakespeare Gallery is rife with ghostly legends. Actors from the past, still passionate about their craft, are said to rehearse their lines in the shadows. Visitors have reported seeing figures dressed in period costumes, vanishing as they approach.
We then arrived at Connor Palace, built in 1922. Named for B.F. Keith, the vaudeville and movie theater founder, the Connor Palace is not only a place of entertainment but also of hauntings. Ghostly vaudeville performers are rumored to take the stage after dark, reliving their glory days. The sounds of phantom applause and murmured conversations fill the empty theater, creating an eerie ambiance.
The Hanna Theatre, built in 1921, was our next stop. It opened with the production of "The Prince and the Pauper," and since then, tales of hauntings have persisted. The ghost of a former actress, who met a tragic end, is said to haunt the theater. Her presence is often felt in the dressing rooms and backstage, where she once prepared for her performances.
Our journey took a somber turn at the Erie Street Cemetery, established in 1826. This cemetery replaced an earlier burial ground near Public Square. As the city grew, the original cemetery became unsightly, and the new cemetery became a resting place for many of Cleveland’s early settlers. Today, visitors report ghostly figures wandering among the tombstones and strange, cold winds that chill to the bone, even on warm nights.
We concluded our ghost tour at Southern Tier Brewery Cleveland, where we gathered to share our experiences. The brewery itself, built on historic grounds, has its own tales of unexplained phenomena. Staff and patrons have reported seeing shadowy figures and hearing ghostly whispers, adding a chilling twist to the end of our tour.
Throughout our ghostly journey, we uncovered the haunted history of downtown Cleveland. The city's spectral inhabitants, from wandering founders to lingering performers, provided a glimpse into a past where the boundary between the living and the dead is thin and fragile. As we sipped our drinks at the brewery, the stories of the night lingered, leaving us with a profound sense of the mysterious and the unknown.