Cleveland has a great number of historic homes and buildings. Our city has one of the very first shopping malls in the world hiding Downtown, and it features work by famous and innovative architects. If walls could talk, Cleveland would be full of stories. Alas, they cannot, but a few historic sites have had their stories preserved every step of the way. Nela Park in Cleveland, for example, has had its journey well-documented. Since the very beginning, General Electric’s Nela Park has provided work to Clevelanders and has worked to advance worldwide knowledge. Today, innovation continues to be the name of the game at this incredible campus.
General Electric’s Nela Park is a familiar sight in Cleveland, but this mundane destination has a story to tell.
Rpabst/Wikimedia Commons Nela Park is thought by many to be the first organized industrial park set aside solely for research, development, and industry. Its very construction helped lead to industry regulation and standardization of construction, one of many memorable feats accomplished at this unsuspecting Cleveland landmark.
Following the formation of the National Electric Lamp Association (NELA) in 1901, General Electric would go on to absorb the company and begin construction on its namesake park in 1911.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark007.jpg Pictured here, growth continues at the Nela Park campus. A cornerstone of one of the park’s many buildings is laid in April of 1913.
Over the years, Nela Park has hosted some impressive guests.
General Electric/Wikimedia Commons I know what you’re thinking… yes, that’s really Ernest Fox Nichols, famed American physicist and then-president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Oh, and the gentleman standing to his left? That’s none other than Mr. Albert Einstein.
This historic campus was recognized with an addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and such an honor was well-founded.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nsxnelagen018.jpg So much has happened at this campus over the years. As the world’s first industrial park — which, by the way, cost around $400,000 in yesteryear’s currency to complete — a site of innovation, and a very real piece of many Clevelanders’ personal stories, there’s something special about this park.
Nela Park today feels quite a bit like a college campus and, truth be told, it always has.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark021.jpg The unique landscape of Nela Park was conceived by New York architect Frank E. Wallis, mimicking the symmetry and clean lines of the Georgian style of architecture. For the benefit of its employees, Nela Park included green space, fountains, cafeterias, tennis courts, bowling alleys, and even a swimming pool. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that?!
Don’t let its laid back landscape fool you; Nela Park was designed for innovation.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark019.jpg Nicknamed “University of Light,” this Cleveland landmark has spearheaded the production and testing of cutting edge lighting products — and it continues to today. It is, to this day, home to General Electric’s Lighting & Electrical Institute.
The years have been kind to Nela Park, as this photo from 1963 demonstrates.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark004.jpg The changing landscape of Nela Park has remained chic and clean, and as features became outdated they were simply upgraded or given new life. Take the pool pictured above, for example. It was originally in place to fight fires if such misfortune ever occurred, but it was outfitted with a spectacular fountain by the time this photo was taken.
In addition to continuing to further the advancement of lighting and other electrical innovation, Nela Park maintains another tradition as well: its annual holiday lights display!
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nsxchristmas023 The annual lights display at Nela Park got its start during the Roaring Twenties. Today, Nela Park continues its traditional Christmas lights display year after year. The most magical thing about this annual event is that their collection has slowly grown to include all sorts of vintage designs, with some light displays dating back to the 1920s.
The landscape that lies just behind these gates is one of Cleveland’s hidden gems.
David Wilson/Flickr Who knew a historic industrial park could be so much fun? The past century at Nela Park has been full of groundbreaking innovation, and its future? Why it’s safe the say that the future of Nela Park is bright.
Nela Park in Cleveland — said to be the world’s first industrial research park — is full of surprises. Its very landscape is something of a time capsule, but these photos capture its personality brilliantly. Did you or a family member work at Nela Park, or have you seen any of its iconic light displays? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Rpabst/Wikimedia Commons
Nela Park is thought by many to be the first organized industrial park set aside solely for research, development, and industry. Its very construction helped lead to industry regulation and standardization of construction, one of many memorable feats accomplished at this unsuspecting Cleveland landmark.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark007.jpg
Pictured here, growth continues at the Nela Park campus. A cornerstone of one of the park’s many buildings is laid in April of 1913.
General Electric/Wikimedia Commons
I know what you’re thinking… yes, that’s really Ernest Fox Nichols, famed American physicist and then-president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Oh, and the gentleman standing to his left? That’s none other than Mr. Albert Einstein.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nsxnelagen018.jpg
So much has happened at this campus over the years. As the world’s first industrial park — which, by the way, cost around $400,000 in yesteryear’s currency to complete — a site of innovation, and a very real piece of many Clevelanders’ personal stories, there’s something special about this park.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark021.jpg
The unique landscape of Nela Park was conceived by New York architect Frank E. Wallis, mimicking the symmetry and clean lines of the Georgian style of architecture. For the benefit of its employees, Nela Park included green space, fountains, cafeterias, tennis courts, bowling alleys, and even a swimming pool. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that?!
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark019.jpg
Nicknamed “University of Light,” this Cleveland landmark has spearheaded the production and testing of cutting edge lighting products — and it continues to today. It is, to this day, home to General Electric’s Lighting & Electrical Institute.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nelapark004.jpg
The changing landscape of Nela Park has remained chic and clean, and as features became outdated they were simply upgraded or given new life. Take the pool pictured above, for example. It was originally in place to fight fires if such misfortune ever occurred, but it was outfitted with a spectacular fountain by the time this photo was taken.
Joseph E. Cole/Cleveland Press Identifier: nsxchristmas023
The annual lights display at Nela Park got its start during the Roaring Twenties. Today, Nela Park continues its traditional Christmas lights display year after year. The most magical thing about this annual event is that their collection has slowly grown to include all sorts of vintage designs, with some light displays dating back to the 1920s.
David Wilson/Flickr
Who knew a historic industrial park could be so much fun? The past century at Nela Park has been full of groundbreaking innovation, and its future? Why it’s safe the say that the future of Nela Park is bright.
Cleveland has a weird and wild history at times. Check out these moments that aren’t in the Cleveland history books to learn more about the best location in the nation. If you’re craving more innovation by General Electric, check out the world’s largest outdoor chandelier.
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