Cleveland Cultural Gardens

A Garden for Everyone

Nestled between Martin Luther King Jr. and East Boulevards, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens honor the many nationalities that call Cleveland home.

Nestled between Martin Luther King Jr. and East Boulevards, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens stretch approximately 1.5 miles through Rockefeller Park. In 1919 journalist Leo Weidenthal founded the original garden, which was dedicated to William Shakespeare and eventually renamed the British Garden. The British Garden was followed by the Hebrew Garden in 1926, and throughout the years more than thirty gardens were added, each representing one of Cleveland’s distinct ethnic communities. The gardens are designed and cared for by representatives from the individual communities that they are named after, and thus offer a great variety of cultural and artistic depth for visitors. Features in the gardens range from a large Renaissance fountain, modeled after the Villa Medici fountain in Rome, found in the Italian Garden, to the Chinese Garden, which is based on the city of Tapei’s Chinese Imperial Palace. Each group’s unique culture, story, and accomplishments are represented, making the Cleveland Cultural Gardens one of the most interesting and distinctive attractions in the city, a lasting monument to inclusion and diversity.

Notes for Travelers

The Cultural Gardens extend along MLK and East Boulevards for approximately 1.5 miles. Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriate for weather. It is recommended that you bring your own food or water if desired.