Cleveland Cultural Gardens

Plant Bed adjacent to the African American Cultural Garden’s flag pole and sign on MLK Jr. Drive.

Large granite fountain installed in the 2010 northern extension of the Garden. The fountain has a timer controlling the hours it functions within. Donated by the Fred A. Lennon family in Fred’s memory; 1905-1998. The fountain replicates the St. Patrick’s Well fountain in St. Patrick’s Park, Dublin, Ireland; on the north side of St. Patrick’s […]

Located along East Boulevard at the upper level of the Lithuanian Garden, the Fountain of Biruta is, according to a 1937 news report, ” a memorial to the pagan past of the Lithuanian people. Biruta was a pagan priestess in the Temple of Perkunas, the God of Thunder. After marrying Kestutis, son of Grand Duke […]

Frank O’Connor 1903-1966 Irish writer Donors:The Boland Family in memory of Jim & Catherine (Monaghan) Boland.

A historian and politician, Frantisek Palacky Francis hoped to kindle nationalist sentiment by studying Bohemian national history. He founded the Society of the Bohemian Museum, which collects materials related to Bohemian history. The bust of Frantisek Palacky is surrounded by a flowering tree (is this a pear or cherry tree?).

Replaced the missing, 1936 bronze plaque. Black granite with likeness and text photo engraved in the stone. Franz Liszt 1811-1886 Hungarian composer, conductor, virtuosic pianist, and teacher.

[cpt_field code=”sculpture-date”][cpt_field code=”sculpture-date”]Photo of the original 1936 Liszt plaque in the new Hungarian Cultural Garden. Franz Liszt 1811-1886 Hungarian composer, conductor, virtuosic pianist, and teacher.

In 2001, the original,1935 Baraga bust, which was missing, was replaced by a new bronze replica sculpted by Robert J. Nuti and cast by Studio Foundry, Cleveland OH. Frederic Baraga 1797-1868 Slovene-American Roman Catholic Missionary, first bishop in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, wrote first book in Ottawa language and first dictionary and grammar in Ojibway (Chippewa). […]

A 19th century musician, Chopin is perhaps the most influential composer for the piano.

Polish composer and virtuoso pianist.  Master of Romantic Music.  Child-prodigy pianist and composer. Inventor of instrumental ballade.  Made major innovations to the etude, impromptu, mazurka, nocturne, plonaise, prelude, scherzo, sonata and waltz.

Nicknamed “Turnvater”, Frederich Jahn was a German nationalist and the father of gymnastics. He developed early forms of the balance beam and vaulting horse. For a period of time, after his death, he was claimed to be a founding father of Nazism. This concept would later be debated and discouraged. ***** Original text: [cpt_field code=”sculpture-date”]Jahn […]

Friedrich Froebel was a German teacher who helped lay the foundation of modern education. He believed that all children have different needs and capabilities, in which he established the first kindergarten (literally ‘children’s garden’) in 1837 in Germany. The fountain was originally located in the Garden of the Archbishop of Salzburg.   **** Original text: […]

Recreation of original, and lost, bust by Frank Jirouch, using plaster model of original bust. To be installed in the Polish Cultural Garden in June, 2010.

Furdek bust re-installed in Slovak Garden in 2010 after 2007 theft and recovery. Mounted on original pillar.

Predecessor to the Slavic language now used through Eastern Europe, the Gagolitic script was used in Croatia longer than any other region thanks to the Croats work to get it accepted by the Roman Catholic Church in their liturgy, in addition to Latin. Photo by: Bill Jones 2012

George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950 Irish playwright. Nobel Prize in Literature, 1925. Oscar for “Pygmalion” (from whence came My Fair Lady).  Credited with introducing political and moral issues tempered with humor, into his plays, in order to make the subject matter more palatable. As a long time member of the Fabian Society, he undertook the exploitation […]

George Enescu Statue 1881-1955 Georges Enescu Romanian composer, conductor, pianist and violinist. Statue dedicated in Garden 1970. Originally stood in Bucharest’s public square in front of the Athenaeum cultural palace and across from the former royal palace. Moved into the royal palace museum and then to the Romanian Cultural Garden. Granite pillar reads: George Enescu; […]

Giotto di Bondone was a painter, sculptor and architect of the traditional religious subjects who lived and worked in Florence during the 13th century. The carved stone medallion sits above a double shell fountain, along a terraced wall and parapet that frames the semi-circular stone court of the lower gardens.

Johann Goethe & Frederich Schiller were prominent German writers of prose and poetry. This larger than life statue of them was originally located in Wade Park and then moved to the German Cultural Garden in 1929 for its dedication. Engraved on the base of this statue is the following in German,: “Only he deserves freedom […]

A student of theology and medicine, Lessing was a noted dramatic writer, dramatist, philosopher, and art critic in the 18th century. He is known for being the first dramaturg, which is a professional researcher and and developer of plays and operas. Lessing also contributed to the Enlightenment period in Germany. ********* Original text: A student […]

Inscribed beneath the bust of Gregorcic in the Slovenian Garden is the quote: Photo by: Bill Jones

Groundbreaking ceremony for Croatian Cultural Garden on April 30, 2011. Pictured are:  Branimir Bosiljevic; Mila Mandic; delegate to CCGF, Tom Turkaly; Marko Lasic; Edward Lozick, challenge grantor; Michael Patterson, rep from Dennis Kucinich’s office; Jerry Malinar, artist and archivist for the Croatian Heritage Library; Mary Hamlin, CCGF Executive Secretary; (woman in hat unknown); and Branka […]

Marconi was an inventor, best known for his work on radio technology. In 1909, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for his “contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy.” The carved stone medallion sits above a double shell fountain, along a terraced wall and parapet that frames the semi-circular stone court of the lower […]

An operatic composer, Giuseppe Verdi composed works regularly performed throughout the world. His work transcends the genre, as themes, such as “La donna è mobile” from Rigoletto and “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from La Traviata, are recognizably a part of modern popular culture. The carved stone medallion sits above a double shell fountain, along a […]

Heart shaped plaza where the Immigrant Mother statue stands. Reminder of the Licitar, a heart-shaped, colorfully decorated, honey gingerbread which is an ornamental expression of love at birthdays, Valentine’s Day and weddings. This unique Croatian confection is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage item for Croatia. A wreathe of red rose bushes and while flowers around […]

  Made of polished stainless steel, the bowl-shaped sculpture allows viewers to see the reflection of the earth and sky in its exterior and interior curves. Gasimov was inspired by the 12th century Azerbaijani poet Ganjavi and the 14th Century Azerbaijani philosopher Imadeddin Nasimi. The sculpture embodies contradictions. According to Gasimov, “its physical form, with […]

Made of polished stainless steel, the bowl-shaped sculpture allows viewers to see the reflection of the earth and sky in its exterior and interior curves. Gasimov was inspired by the 12th century Azerbaijani poet Ganjavi and the 14th Century Azerbaijani philosopher Imadeddin Nasimi. The sculpture embodies contradictions. According to Gasimov, “its physical form, with its […]

Heinrich Heine, who would change his name to Christian Johann Heinrich Heine, was an influential German poet in the 19th century. He is known for his lyric poetry, which is a poetry form used to express feelings and is often set to music or a beat. Some of the most famous composers to provide music […]

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Winner of the 1905 Nobel Prize in Literature, Sienkiewicz is perhaps best known for his novel Quo Vadis, dealing with the Roman Emperor Nero and Christian persecution.

A piano virtuoso, Paderewski was also an equally successful politician. Early in the twentieth century, he was part of the movement for Polish nationalism and became the newly formed country’s third Prime Minister in 1919.

“Immigrant Mother” statue installed in the Croatian Cultural Garden in May, 2012. Cast in Croatia from mold used for iterations in Argentina, Canada and Croatia. Originally sculpted for a potential Cleveland Croatian Cultural Garden in 2005. Sculptor is Croatian-American Joseph Turkaly (1924-2007) Photo by: Bill Jones 2012

Imre Madach 1823-1864 Hungarian lawyer, poet, politician, and writer. His poem, “The Tragedy of Man”, is his major work. Mandatory reading for Hungarian high school students and many of the lines are common quotes in Hungary today. Inscribed on Madach’s pillar is a quote from his poem: “Man, I have spoken! Fight! And, unfaltering, trust!” […]

Native American with head dress carved into a flat stone on the southern edge of the rock garden and to the immediate west of the Herzl plaque. Carved by a Wm Bailey in 1936 according to the carving. No doubt this is an unofficial addition to the Garden, perhaps by a neighbor at that time. […]

Primitive etching of a head dressed Native American found on an upright walk in the central path through the rock garden portion of the Hebrew Cultural Garden. A companion drawing is done on the face of a flat rock immediately up the hillside to the south and toward the core of the Garden. According to […]

Designed and executed by artist Clarence E. van Duzer, the centerpiece of the Estonian Garden is an inscribed pillar with a symbolic shaft with flame atop it. It stands as the first non-representational sculptural element in the gardens. The flame is made of golden oak, making this the only monument in the Gardens incorporating wood. […]

Granite bust of Ivan Cankar, dedicated on June 17, 2010. Replaces missing bas relief of Cankar. Photo by: Bill Jones

Fiberglass bust of Ivan Zorman installed in 2012 to replace original bronze bust from 1959. Zorman wrote Slovenian language poetry and composed music while living in Cleveland after immigrating from Slovenia. Graduate of Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Principal contributor to the Slovenian Garden’s section of “Their Paths are Peace” on the Cultural Gardens. Photo […]

1959 Pillar that formerly supported a bronze bust of Ivan Zorman which is now missing. Ivan Zorman 1885-1957 Slovene-American poet, composer, musician. Translated Yugoslav portion of “Their Paths are Peace” into Slovene for the Cultural Gardens Federation. Photo by: Bill Jones