Cleveland History Days returns with a vengeance for summer 2022 with events exploring the city’s past, present and future

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland History Days is making a comeback this summer after rolling back in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 10-day event runs from Friday June 24 through Sunday July 3 and will feature readings, talks, outdoor events, “Take a Hike” tours and other events designed to shed light on the past, present and the future of the city. Most events are free, but some require entry. Reservations are recommended.

A complete list can be found on the non-profit Canalway Partners website at channelwaypartners.com/clevelandhistorydays/.

The event is the brainchild of longtime Towpath Trail advocates Tim Donovan and Tom Yablonsky, and is co-sponsored by organizations including Canalway Partners and the Western Reserve Historical Society.

The Historical Society’s Cleveland History Center at 10825 East Blvd. will host a pre-launch event at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, with a happy hour celebrating Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community.

The official kickoff on June 24 includes an opening ceremony at the History Center at 10:30 a.m., followed by a lunch at noon and a film screening dedicated to Cleveland inventor Garrett Morgan.

Other topics to explore during History Days include:

* William Stinchcomb and the creation of Cleveland Metroparks.

* The history of downtown Cleveland’s mall.

* Civic activism and the historic preservation movement in Cleveland.

* Adaptive reuse of mid-century modern architecture in the Erieview district.

* The Black Civil Rights Trail in Cleveland.

* Cozad-Bates House in the University Circle and the Underground Railroad.

* A visit to the University Circle.

* The history of Lake View Cemetery.

* Cleveland baseball history.

* The historic B&O Railroad Roundhouse.

* A bicycle tour of the Cuyahoga River Valley.