Skip to Main Content

Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland's Oldest Electric Street Lamp

Charles F. Brush debuted the first electric street lights across the street 1879. This fancy art nouveau lamp, a tribute to Brush, was switched on in 1890.

Address:
151 Ontario St., Cleveland, OH
Directions:
Downtown, across from Cleveland Public Square park, at the intersection of Rockwell Ave. and Ontario St.
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Cleveland's Oldest Electric Street Lamp

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Art nouveau street lamp installed in 1890.

World's First Electric Street Lamp

Invented by Charles F. Brush of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1879.

[Stephen Francia, 07/27/2020]

Not exactly. The art nouveau lamp was designed in 1890 to commemorate Brush's Cleveland street lights, which were no-frills blinding arc lamps on outdoor towers erected just across the street. They'd been taken down by the time this lamp went up.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Former Smallest Book in the WorldFormer Smallest Book in the World, Cleveland, OH - < 1 mi.
Tiny Library PatronsTiny Library Patrons, Cleveland, OH - < 1 mi.
World's Largest Rubber StampWorld's Largest Rubber Stamp, Cleveland, OH - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Blessed Garden Hose Water, Euclid, OH - 10 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Ohio Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

World's Largest Cat, Pine Island, New York (Apr 22-28, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings