Historic Franklin Boulevard

Historic Franklin Boulevard

Take a Hike: Stroll Series tour

October | Thursdays | 5:30pm

Step back in time as you explore Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City. Once known as the Millionaires’ Row of the west side, this grand avenue was lined with mansions built by some of Cleveland’s most prominent families. Over the years, it has witnessed dramatic change—periods of prosperity, decline, and revitalization. Today, Franklin Boulevard is part of a designated historic district, celebrated for its architectural variety and strong neighborhood commitment to preservation. This tour reveals the rich layers of history embedded in one of Cleveland’s most storied corridors.

Along the way, we’ll expand on standout architecture, like the bold Cudell and Richardson design of Franklin Circle Christian Church and the beautifully restored Nelson Sanford Italianate mansion. We’ll hear about early visionaries and developers—Josiah Barber and brothers Samuel and Richard Lord—who helped shape the neighborhood’s early growth. And we’ll take time to appreciate Franklin Circle itself, one of Cleveland’s few radial street designs and a defining feature of the city’s early urban plan.