Greek Cultural Garden
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a collection of public gardens located within the City of Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park. Within the 276 acres of wooded parkland on the city’s East Side are 32 distinct gardens, each commemorating a different ethnic group whose immigrants have contributed to the heritage of the city over the centuries.
The Greek Cultural Garden was dedicated June 24, 1940. HPS maintains the Greek Garden, restoring and replanting, and preserving this landmark reflecting our Hellenic heritage to the city. Two doric columns frame the garden’s entrance opening into a plaza, laid out in the shape of a cross, containing a reflecting pool. A wall and pylons symbolize the wall of the Parthenon. Stone tablets on the wall are inscribed with the names of prominent Greek artists, philosophers, writers and scientists.
Since HPS re-dedicated the garden in 1994, we have seen the realization of several new gardens. Our involvement has helped to sustain this unique cultural gem in the city of Cleveland. Our long-term plans call for a Poet’s Bench and a bronze relief sculpture on the Parthenon wall to fully realize the original garden plans.
The Greek Garden is a popular location for weddings and wedding pictures throughout the year.
The Annual One World Day Festival is a fun event with a parade of nations, a naturalization ceremony, music food and dancing, and tours throughout the gardens. The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation has hosted this event since 1946.
Help Us Stand with Ukraine
HPS has donated to Ukraine relief through IOCC. Your donation is appreciated, donate here: IOCC Ukraine Support
Message from our President: Linda Glynias
Thank you so much for your membership in 2021. I’m happy to report that we reached the 100-member mark and raised $10,000 in dues. We thank you very much for your generosity! This year, with your support, we were able to sponsor the internationally recognized Byzantine Conference, which was held here in Cleveland at CWRU and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Additionally, we continue to put your donations to good use toward maintaining the Greek Garden. While we had programming planned for the spring, because of the uncertainty of live events, our 2022 schedule is still being developed. More details on our calendar will follow. As the HPS, we have an important mission to promote our Greek heritage. I hope that anyone interested in this endeavor will join our HPS group and HPS Board to help. We are hoping to unfold some larger projects and would love the support. Our group encompasses NE Ohio, including Akron and Lorain. We have many areas where we can use help: the Greek Garden, One World Day, HPS Collection/Archives, Education (youth and adult), Speaker/Author series. Please contact me if your are interested in participating at lglynias@gmail. com. If you aren’t a member yet, please sign up or contact us at hpscleveland@gmail.com to join our organization!
Our Vision
HPS provides resources and guidance to the Greek community in Northeast Ohio with the goal of perpetuating Hellenic cultural identity across generations.
Your sponsorship helps us to continue to grow and preserve our Collections and Archives which document the immigrant experience of the Greeks in Northeastern Ohio, support the Annual Collis Lecture at the Cleveland Museum of Art, maintain the Greek Garden at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, and provide speakers and programs of interest to the community.
Contact us at HPSCleveland@gmail.com to see how you can get involved!
Newsletters
Click here to see our newsletter library: Newsletters
Calendar of Events
Dr. John and Helen Collis lecture at Cleveland Museum of Art: Sept. 25, 2022 Tickets and Information here
Our Collections: Virtual Museum
More items from the collection can be found here: HPS Virtual Museum
HPS preserves artifacts of Greek immigration to Northeast Ohio. These artifacts are donated by members of the Northeastern Ohio Greek Community. Our diverse collection consists of items made by or used by Greek immigrants as they emigrated to the area and made a new life for themselves.
In addition to the collection, the archives consist of photographs, manuscripts, and documents describing the Greek immigrant experience.
HPS underwrote the cost to fully restore 30 icons from Annunciation Church of Cleveland, Ohio. These icons were painted by Reverend John Zographos in 1929. After the restoration, the icons have been displayed at area churches. Those icons can be seen here: Icons donated in 1992
If you have items that represent the Greek Immigrant experience and are interested in donating, please contact us at hpscleveland@gmail.com.
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Related Organizations
Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio 