Vintage Photos of Cleveland's Public Square in the 1800s

Public Square has been the center of Cleveland starting all the way back in 1857. It used to be the home of Cleveland City Hall, the main Cleveland Post Office,  a centennial arch, and more. In 1879 it became the first street in the world to be lit with electric street lights. In the 19th century, Public Square also saw the celebrations of soldiers returning home from the Spanish-American War, Cleveland's centennial, America's centennial and funeral processions for Presidents Abraham Lincoln and James A. Garfield. It also, obviously, looked way different than it does today.