Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Why it's listed
Cleveland Municipal Stadium is a mammoth double-deck structure on the Lake Erie shoreline, built in 1930-31 to hold about 80,000 people for football and to host baseball, boxing, opera, religious gatherings and other public events. Its exterior is mottled gray brick over reinforced concrete and steel, with an upper level set back and clad in aluminum louvers. The architects, Walker and Weeks, used the aluminum and the set-back design to reduce the apparent height of the 116-foot building against the sky and lake. Proposed in 1925 as part of Cleveland's Group Plan, it was completed during the Depression and became a focal point for large events, including a 1935 religious service that drew more than 125,000 people. It became home to the Indians baseball team and the Browns football team. The adjoining Donald Gray Gardens survive as a remnant of the 1936 Great Lakes Exposition. Later improvements added loges, seating and a new playing surface.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the stadium reflects the architectural diversity of Walker and Weeks and is part of Cleveland's Group Plan and the major building projects of the 1930s. It also notes that it hosted some of the nation's largest outdoor events and helped build Cleveland's professional sports franchises. Its extensive use of aluminum is described as a departure in stadium construction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87002287, listed November 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Erieview Dr., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | November 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002287 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1930-31 |
| Architect / builder | Walker and Weeks; A. Donald Gray (landscape, Donald Gray Gardens) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as an entertainment and recreation facility; altered with improvements including luxury loges, new seats, a scoreboard and a lowered playing surface, though the structure has undergone relatively few major changes. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 41.50880, -81.69743 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87002287.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2113078
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.