Home of incredible Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History and many other activities to do in Cleveland on Memorial Day. We've compiled some of the best activities to do in Cleveland on this Memorial Day holiday.
One of the most popular things to do in Cleveland on Memorial Day is to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Designed by I.M. Pei, it is more of an experience than a museum. The history of popular music is spread over six floors in an atmosphere of multimedia exuberance, with such rarities as the manuscript of Purple Haze, written by Jimi Hendrix. It is here that the rock and roll music industry honors its finest entertainers.
Music enthusiasts could spend days going through all the museum has to offer, with permanent exhibitions and traveling national and international shows. The eye-catching, state-of-the-art building sits on the shores of Lake Erie. The best way to experience the museum is to start on Level 0, where you find the Hall of Fame Inductees, and work your way to the top.
The Cleveland Museum of Art features a variety of art from around the world. It has a particularly strong collection of American art and medieval art from Europe and Asia. Visitors during Memorial Day will also find art by North American Indians as well as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, and Southeast Asian art. In addition to the permanent collection, the Cleveland Museum of Art hosts special exhibitions and events.
West Side Market is the longest running public market in Cleveland. It was renovated in the early 2000s and has been gaining in popularity over the years with both locals and tourists. The central feature is the 1912 markethouse with a 137-foot-tall clock tower that has stood for more than a century.
In total, the market accommodates more than 100 vendors selling vegetables, fine meats, baked goods, cheese, flowers, and other specialty items. The products and people are ethnically diverse, and the market is a fun place to visit on Memorial Day and stroll, even if you do not buy anything.
Help Tip: If you find yourself traveling around Cleveland during Memorial day and a rock should happen to hit your windshield, don't worry as this happens. And, our partnship with Great Lakes Auto Glass in Cleveland will be there to assist you immediately. So make note and visit them should anything happen to your auto glass on the trip.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is home to some outstanding exhibits showcasing collections and research in areas from paleontology to botany. Chief among these is that of a three-million-year-old human ancestor, Australopithecus afarensis, known as "Lucy," which was a key discovery in the field of anthropology.
Perhaps more dramatic in a visual sense are the dinosaur skeletons that tower over visitors as they walk through the Kirtland Hall of Prehistoric Life. There are also many other exhibits, from geology and astronomy to gems and minerals. Children will enjoy the many interactive displays on Memorial Day visit, like the "living galleries" in the Perkins Wildlife Center.
A visit on Memorial Day to the Great Lakes Science Center is an educational experience that will spark your curiosity about the science behind things like space travel and wind. The center offers hundreds of interactive displays designed to engage visitors of all ages.
From spring until fall, visitors can tour the 1925 steamship William G. Mather to learn about life on the ship and the history of the great lakes. One of the main features at the center is the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, a movie experience beneath a six-story domed screen that is a multi-media experience of sound and visuals.
The center has an active event calendar, be sure to check out their website prior to visiting.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden features 20 unique gardens showcasing flora and fauna from around the world. On Memorial Day, take a walk through the rainforest and desert, or get up close to rare orchids.
Among the attractions here are the Hershey Children's Garden, a Japanese Garden featuring a dry rock stream, the Mary Ann Sears Swetland Rose Garden, Western Reserve Herb Society Garden, Woodland Garden, Elizabeth and Nona Evans Restorative Garden, Campsey-Stauffer Gateway Garden, and the CK Patrick Perennial Garden.
The USS Cod Submarine Memorial, a National Historic Landmark, is located on the shores of Lake Erie. This World War II submarine has a storied history of battles and rescues. It was responsible for the first submarine-to-submarine rescue, which occurred in 1945.
You can visit the USS Cod during Memorial Day and are invited to board the vessel. Entrance is through the original hatchways as it has not been modified since wartime.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Located near Brookside Metropolitan Park, the zoo has domestic and exotic animals from around the world, including the largest collection of primate species in North America.
Besides enjoying the many renovated animal exhibits, you can spend time during Memorial Day at the 4D Theater or take part in one of the many behind-the-scenes experiences and seasonal programs. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is also a botanic garden with beautiful year-round foliage.
