Rare Chance to See Nela Park Art Collection

UPDATE:  THIS WAS SUCH A POPULAR IDEA THAT IT’S ALREADY FULLY REGISTERED.  MAYBE WE CAN DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME.

Nela Park in East Cleveland – just west of the Cleveland Heights border on Noble Road – was the world’s first industrial park. But did you know the facility is also renowned for its art collection?

Now, the GE Lighting Institute at Nela Park has agreed to show 40 lucky people that art collection on Monday, September 8, from 1:30-3:30 p.m.  And you could be one of them!

As part of a collaboration with the Heights Bicycle Coalition, the Cleveland Heights Historical Society is taking reservations at heightshistory@gmail.com or 216-314-0808.  Please provide your name, telephone number and an e-mail address.  Act fast, because registrations are limited.

To bicycle to Nela Park, meet Mary Dunbar and Kathy Schaefer as early as 12:45 p.m. at the Coventry Peace Arch (southeast corner of Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard) for a 1 p.m. bicycling start.  If you prefer to drive to Nela Park, the security guard will sign you in and instruct you on where to park.

Nela Park is named for a Cleveland company (National Electric Lamp Company) that was acquired by GE in 1900 in an effort to standardize the size of light bulb bases. Nela Park was established in 1911 when GE bought an abandoned vineyard seven miles from Cleveland in what was then the rural countryside.

The campus consists of 20 Georgian Revival-style buildings, all but four of which were built before 1921. Nela Park was designated a National Historic Place in 1975. Today, the 92-acre campus is home to GE’s Lighting Division and employs around 1,200. The facility is also known for its spectacular holiday lighting display.