African-American Civil Rights Trail
Walk in the footsteps of Cleveland’s African American civil rights activists and follow their fight for legislative and social progress.
Map Locations
- Cory United Methodist Church Get Directions | Learn More
- The Hough Uprising Get Directions | Learn More
- Glenville High School Get Directions | Learn More
- Olivet Institutional Baptist Church Get Directions | Learn More
- Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church Get Directions | Learn More
- Ludlow Community Association Get Directions | Learn More
- Carl Stokes Get Directions | Learn More
- African American Cultural Garden Get Directions | Learn More
- Ali Summit and Negro Industrial and Economic Union Get Directions | Learn More
- Desegregation of Cleveland Public Schools Get Directions | Learn More
- Terry v. Ohio Get Directions | Learn More
Explore the Trail
From historic Cory United Methodist Church to the Pegg House and Ludlow Community Association, through the Hough Neighborhood and historic stops in-between, you’ll follow a trail that features iconic destinations, each steeped in the history of Cleveland’s civil rights movement, commemorating the struggle and fight for equality.
History Was
Made
Here
We invite you to walk the path to equality and learn the history that was made across Cleveland during the 1950s, 60s and 70s—history that’s still being made today. Stand at pivotal sites, hear the stories that influenced change, and immerse yourself in the powerful story of our city’s courageous contributions to sweeping legislative and social progress.
STEP BACK IN TIME
Each stop on Cleveland’s African American Civil Rights Trail tells its own story—one that’s part of a greater history. We invite you to step back in time, one stop at a time, to learn more about the struggles, triumphs, leaders, and sites that all played a role in creating a more equitable future for African Americans in Cleveland—and across the country.
Cory United Methodist Church has a rich history as a central meeting place for grassroots Civil Rights organizing, and as the primary venue that hosted some of the most renowned speakers of the time.
The Hough Uprising occurred in the summer of 1966. The event is considered the most significant urban uprising in Cleveland, in reaction to substandard housing, criminal injustice, and the lack of public accommodation.
Glenville High School is located in the historic Glenville neighborhood and was the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. targeted his message at young people and their ability to participate in non-violent, social change in 1967.
As one of the largest African American churches in Ohio, the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church was a civil rights hub under the leadership of Rev. Odie M. Hoover who was known for his connection to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his work to advance civil rights.
During the heyday of the civil rights movement, the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church served as the headquarters of the United Freedom Movement, which was an organization comprised of Black and White civic organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Urban League, Congress of Racial Equality, and various other groups.
This organization set a national example as a neighborhood development model that was created to counteract prevailing prejudice against black buyers in white neighborhoods.
Carl Burton Stokes was the first African American mayor of a major American city, having been elected mayor of Cleveland, the nation’s 8th largest city, in 1967.
The African American Cultural Gardens demonstrate Black people’s commitment to the equitable allocation of public space.
Learn More | Directions
Ali Summit and the Negro Industrial and Economic Union
The Ali Summit and Negro Industrial and Economic Union represented the submerging of civil rights activism, the anti-Vietnam war movement, and professional athletes’ involvement in national and local politics. Cleveland Browns players had a central role in organizing the summit and the Union.
Desegregation of Cleveland Public Schools
Beginning in the 1950s, segregation in Cleveland Public Schools was at the center of the city’s civil rights movement. The United Freedom Movement, a coalition of 50 civic, religious, and parent organizations, initiated demonstrations, sit-ins, and pickets, to galvanize the fight for equality.
Terry v. Ohio
This criminal case from Cleveland, Ohio, resulted in a landmark opinion issued in 1968 by Chief Justice Earl Warren of the Supreme Court of the United States. In Terry vs. Ohio, the nation’s highest court affirmed the ruling of Cuyahoga County Judge Bernard Friedman, which defined the limits of police action for when they “stop and frisk” suspects based on their suspicion of criminal activity.
Additional Markers Coming Soon
Cory United Methodist Church has been selected as a site of significance on Cleveland’s African American Civil Rights Trail because of its history as a central meeting place for grassroots Civil Rights organizing, and as the primary venue to host to some of the most renowned speakers of the time.
The Hough Uprising occurred in the summer of 1966. Hough was selected because the event is considered the most significant urban uprising in Cleveland, in reaction to substandard housing, criminal injustice, and the lack of public accommodation.
The CRS African American Civil Rights Trail Committee chose Glenville High School as one of the trail sites because of its location and the uniqueness of the speech given to high school students by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1967.
As one of the largest African American churches in Ohio, the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church was a civil rights hub under the leadership of Rev. Odie M. Hoover who was known for his connection to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his work to advance civil rights.
During the heyday of the civil rights movement, the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church served as the headquarters of the United Freedom Movement, which was an organization comprised of Black and White civic organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Urban League, Congress of Racial Equality, and various other groups.
Announcements
Cleveland Restoration Society invites you to the newest Cleveland Civil Rights Trail marker unveiling taking place on September 5 at 1:00 p.m. The marker, to be installed on the corner of E. 79th Street and Hough, reflects on the Hough Uprising, its causes, and its impact on the community.
Learn more about the unveiling HERE.
Meet
Our
Supporters
We are honored to acknowledge the following sponsors and grantors who embrace our mission of historic preservation.
This material was produced with assistance from the African American Civil Rights Grant Program, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.
This website is made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Additional support is provided by a generous anonymous donor, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church – Carole Hoover and Patricia Hoover and Maxine Isaacs, daughter of Bernard Isaacs, co-founder of the Ludlow Community Association.
Map Locations
- Cory United Methodist Church Get Directions | Learn More
- The Hough Uprising Get Directions | Learn More
- Glenville High School Get Directions | Learn More
- Olivet Institutional Baptist Church Get Directions | Learn More
- Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church Get Directions | Learn More
- Ludlow Community Association Get Directions | Learn More
- Carl Stokes Get Directions | Learn More
- African American Cultural Garden Get Directions | Learn More
- Ali Summit and Negro Industrial and Economic Union Get Directions | Learn More
- Desegregation of Cleveland Public Schools Get Directions | Learn More
- Terry v. Ohio Get Directions | Learn More
REDISCOVER CLEVELAND
Whether Cleveland is your home or you’re visiting our great city, we urge everyone to rediscover the heart, soul and tenacity that lives in its history. Visit any of these sites to gain new perspective and a new appreciation for the history behind Cleveland as it is today.