CLE Black History: Cleveland’s Greatest Contributors

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The Cleveland History Center does our city proud. Every exhibit — from “Cleveland Starts Here” to “Carl and Louis Stokes: Making History” — overflows with artifacts, memorabilia and thought-provoking stories about the most impactful Clevelanders thanks to the support of the George Gund Foundation, PNC Financial Services Groupand other community stakeholders.

For those looking to uncover Cleveland's rich Black history, the Center also provides a reminder of Cleveland’s place on the vanguard of the Civil Rights movement. Prepare to be impressed — and inspired.

Carl Stokes

In 1965, Carl Stokes narrowly lost his first mayoral bid in Cleveland. But that setback proved to be no more than a bump in the road, as he broke through in 1967 to become the first African American mayor of a major city. When the Cuyahoga River infamously caught fire shortly after he took office, Stokes’ “Cleveland NOW!” initiative fulfilled his pledge to clean up The Land and improve the city’s image.

Louis Stokes

Like his brother, Louis Stokes rose from poverty to public service. After successfully arguing a Civil Rights case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, Stokes parlayed that triumph into a distinguished career as Ohio’s first African American congressman. He represented the 21st District with distinction for 15 terms, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Garrett Morgan

This prolific Cleveland-based inventor had just one goal — to make the world a safer place. In 1916, Morgan bravely donned his newly-created safety hood to rescue several trapped miners from a gas-filled tunnel beneath Lake Erie. Above ground, he also debuted the three-position traffic signal, adding an intermediate step between stop and go. Yes, the world’s first “yellow light.”

Alonzo Wright

Alonzo Wright paired a sharp business mind with genuine care for his customers and community. Cleveland’s first African American millionaire arrived with just six cents in his pocket. But a chance meeting with a SOHIO (Standard Oil of Ohio) executive led Wright to lease his own service station, where he pioneered the practice of cleaning customers’ windshields as they waited for a fill-up. Later, Wright expanded his empire through real estate investment.

But, wait, there’s more…

The Cleveland History Center shines light on these additional facets of local African American history:

• The "Robert P. Madison: A Lifetime of Design" exhibit honors the first registered Black architect in Ohio.
• Since the 1960s, photographers have captured both progress and ongoing struggles in Black communities. "History in Their Hands: Black Photographers in Cleveland, Ohio, 1968 – Present," the inaugural exhibition at the African American History Gallery, features portraits and events showcasing contributions to culture, activism and daily life.

Any visit to the Cleveland History Center in University Circle brings our city’s storied history to life. Don’t miss out.

Black History in CLE

Visit our Black Culture page and immerse yourself in Cleveland’s Black history.