University Circle in Cleveland
Northeast Ohio’s Cultural Center with Museums and Attractions
An introduction to University Circle on the east side of Cleveland, site of the Art and Narural Museums and Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Cleveland has a number of great places for tourists and locals to visit. The University Circle area, a few miles east of downtown, is home to the major cultural institutions, including the Art Museum and Museum of Natural History.
Location
You can get to University Circle easily from downtown Cleveland by taking any of the major thoroughfares of Euclid, Carnegie or Chester a few miles east. Euclid is under construction for the Euclid Corridor Project.
From the Eastern Suburbs, Euclid, Cedar or Mayfield Roads intersect at University Circle. From Interstate 90, known as the East Shoreway, take the exit for MLK Boulevard and head south for about five miles.
Museums
The Cleveland Art Museum is a major attraction. The building and grounds are undergoing construction until 2010, and there is only limited access to the important works of art stored there. Galleries on the second floor will open in mid-2008.
The Art Museum, and most of the museums here, are closed on Sundays and Mondays, and open Wednesday evenings until 9. Admission to the Art Museum is free, except for some special exhibits and films.
The nearby Museum of Natural History contains educational exhibits on the world we live in, the always popular Prehistoric Life room and dinosaur exhibit, and the Planetarium. Admission is $9 for adults, with discounts for youth and seniors.
Attractions
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus is in University Circle as well as the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Institute of Art, which also houses the Cleveland Cinematheque, which shows classic films and little known but deserving modern movies.
Severance Hall is the home of the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra, with performances on weekends from fall to spring. Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls is the outdoor summer venue for the Orchestra.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden provides lovely outdoor displays and a Glasshouse filled with flora from around the world. Admission is $7.50. Across Euclid Avenue, there is a Children’s Museum, where children can learn by playing. Admission is $6.
The Western Reserve Historical Society operates The History Museum, with information on Northeast Ohio, the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum and The Library. Admission for all three is $8.50.
Two great medical centers are located in University Circle, Case Medical Center of University Hospitals and the world famous Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
The hospitals have large campuses and stunning architecture, as does CWRU, particularly the new Peter B. Lewis building, and the stately historic buildings around campus.
Other
Parking is available at the major venues at hourly and daily rates. Metered parking is available on side streets, for a maximum of two hours at 50 cents per hour. Rules are strictly enforced.
Most of the venues have cafeterias or snack shops. There are a number of great restaurants in the area.
Whether you are visiting from out of town or a Clevelander looking for a fun and educational way to spend a day or weekend, University Circle should be on your list of places to explore.
