The Atlas Obscura Guide To Cleveland

30 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Cleveland, Ohio

Updated May 17, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Cleveland

The crystal ball of Sybil Leek, a British witch and astrologer who crossed over into more mainstream culture during the 1960s and 70s.

Cleveland, Ohio

Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick

A collection of witchcraft artifacts and occult paraphernalia started by the leader of the Long Island Coven.

"The Angel of Death Victorious" also known as the "Haserot Angel" in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, 10/15/2021

Cleveland, Ohio

The Haserot Angel

The angel of death appears to weep black tears at this grave marker.

The famous leg lamp

Cleveland, Ohio

A Christmas Story House and Museum

The home made famous by the 1983 holiday classic is now a perfectly preserved shrine to the movie.

Waves from Lake Erie crash onto Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse as the subzero air temperature causes the water to freeze in multiple layers.

Cleveland, Ohio

Frozen Cleveland Lighthouse

An unoccupied lighthouse encased in layers of ice from the waters of Lake Erie.

Franklin Castle in Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio

Franklin Castle

A history of tragedy and a pile of eerie stories have contributed to this house's consistent ranking as one of the most haunted places in Ohio.

West Side Market

Cleveland, Ohio

West Side Market

This spectacular public market has got meat, fish, vegetables, baked goods, and enough kielbasa for a lifetime.

The Cleveland Arcade

Cleveland, Ohio

The Cleveland Arcade

Funded by John D. Rockefeller, this is one of the earliest, and most beautiful, shopping arcades in America.

1875 Doctors Office

Cleveland, Ohio

Dittrick Medical Museum

Medical history museum featuring a lovely doctor's office from the 1800s.

See All 30 Things To Do in Cleveland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Cleveland

West Side Market

Cleveland, Ohio

West Side Market

This spectacular public market has got meat, fish, vegetables, baked goods, and enough kielbasa for a lifetime.

Exterior in color

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building

Marvel at this turn-of-the-century masterpiece that has been turned into a rather stately supermarket.

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Take to the Skies With These 9 Gravity-Defying Sites in Ohio

Sure, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, got headlines, but the Wright Brothers were Ohioans through and through. That's where they had their print and cycle shop, and established the world's first airplane factory. From Dayton's Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, to NASA's Glenn Research Center, to Congress officially declaring Ohio the “birthplace of aviation,” and much more, no other state takes to the skies and beyond like the home of the Buckeyes. Here are some of our favorite places to feel the wind beneath your wings.

The Avrocar hovered, but never really lifted off in a big way.

Explore Cleveland, Ohio

Architecture 8

Aletrail 6

History 4

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Stories About Cleveland

The 1968 magazine, with the library's labels.

Found: A 'Life' Magazine Stolen From a Library 51 Years Ago

The sender returned it, confessed, and paid up.

by Evan Nicole Brown

Michigan train depot, c. 1900.

Rediscovering Lost Literary Treasures of the American Midwest

A small press is reviving forgotten—but newly relevant—writing about a complex region and its people.

by Sarah Laskow

Libraries have long played an important role in rock 'n' roll consciousness, as in the Tears for Fears video for "Head Over Heels."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Is Looking for a Librarian

For those about to apply—we salute you.

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