monday, april 27
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument
- Location: 3 Public Square, Cleveland OH 44114
- Depart 3:30 p.m.; return 4:55 p.m.
- Capacity: 50 participants
Standing on the southeast quadrant of Cleveland’s Public Square, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is one of the city’s most prominent civic memorials. The memorial was dedicated on July 4, 1894, to honor more than 9,000 Cuyahoga County residents who served in the Civil War. Designed by architect and veteran Levi Scofield, the structure features a 125 foot column topped by the Goddess of Freedom, and surrounded by large scale bronze battle groupings representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and Navy. Inside is the Memorial Room, which contains four bronze sculptures: the Women’s Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Aid Society, the Emancipation of the Enslaved, the Beginning of the War in Ohio, and the End of the War at City Point.
While widely recognized as an artistic and historical landmark, the Monument also serves as an active part of Cleveland’s public realm—an urban site that must remain accessible, safe, and structurally protected year-round. Its age, materials, and heavy pedestrian use require ongoing coordination between Monument staff and Cleveland public works teams, particularly during harsh winter conditions.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the historical significance and architectural features of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument.
- Explain how the Monument functions as an active component of Cleveland’s public realm.
- Describe the coordinated role of Monument staff and Cleveland public works teams in maintaining and protecting the historic site in all weather conditions.
monday, april 27
Cleveland Traffic Engineering Department
- Location: 601 Lakeside Ave E # 518, Cleveland, OH 44114
- Depart 3:30 p.m.; return 5:15 p.m.
- Capacity: 50 participants
The Cleveland Traffic Engineering Department oversees the planning, operation, and modernization of traffic control systems that keep the city moving safely and efficiently, building on Cleveland’s historic role as the birthplace of modern traffic signal technology. Beginning in 1914 with the world’s first electric traffic signal at East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue, designed by James Hoge, Cleveland pioneered innovations that replaced officers in the street with visible, coordinated control systems. This legacy continued in 1923 when Garrett Morgan patented the three-position (stop–go–caution) traffic signal, a breakthrough that introduced the precursor to today’s yellow light and became the global standard for intersection control. This tour connects Cleveland’s historic leadership in traffic engineering with today’s data-driven signal operations, adaptive technologies, and interdepartmental coordination that support roadway safety, congestion management, and multimodal mobility.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe Cleveland’s role in the development of modern traffic signal systems, including the 1914 electric signal and the 1923 three-position signal.
- Explain how historical traffic control innovations evolved into contemporary adaptive signal operations.
- Identify how Cleveland Traffic Engineering coordinates with public works and emergency services to improve safety and efficiency.
wednesday, april 29
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Location: 5300 Riverside Dr, Cleveland, OH 44135
- Depart 8:00 a.m.; return 11:00 a.m.
- Capacity: 50 participants
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is a vital transportation and economic asset whose continuous operation depends heavily on public works–driven infrastructure, fleet coordination, and winter maintenance expertise. As one of the earliest municipally owned airports in the United States, CLE has long served as a proving ground for airfield design, snow and ice control practices, and large-scale operational coordination in severe winter conditions common to Northeast Ohio. This tour highlights how airport operations, public works, and maintenance teams collaborate to keep runways, taxiways, and support facilities safe and operational during snow events—balancing aviation safety standards, rapid response timelines, and passenger mobility. Participants will explore how historic infrastructure has been adapted with modern equipment, materials, and planning strategies to maintain reliability through winter weather and peak travel demands.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the public works functions critical to airport winter operations, including snow and ice control, fleet deployment, and airfield surface management.
- Explain how historical airport infrastructure and design influence modern maintenance strategies and operational decision-making in winter conditions.
- Describe coordination practices between airport operations, public works crews, and safety teams to ensure continuity, compliance, and rapid recovery during winter weather events.
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