In the long history of Cleveland, University Circle has long-stood as one of the most beautiful landmarks the city has to offer, whether you are walking around Wade lagoon on a warm April afternoon with blooming cherry blossoms along its shore, or checking out the numerous museums that the area has to offer. Newcomers to the area might look for the circle implied by the name, but find none.

There is no circle at University Circle, but this wasn’t always the case. As time unfolded over the years, the original circle disappeared along with the changing landscape.

When the circle was first established in the early 1800’s following the relocation of the universities of Case Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology, the circle and roundabout formed at the intersection of  Euclid Avenue, Doan Brook Boulevard, and what would become Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The circle continued during the next major expansion in the 1890’s, after what is now the Cleveland Institute of Art moved to the area and Jeptha Wade had set aside a plot of land for what would later on become the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The Western Reserve Historical Society joined along with the Art museum and the future Institute of Art, and plans were put in place for a cultural center. At this point the circle still remained.

When the art museum opened in 1916, it was the first of several museums, with additions in the 1920’s and 1930’s to include the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Soon after that University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic opened up campuses about a mile down the road. The area began to boom more than ever as the area became a central hub for arts and culture, healthcare, and education.

Still the circle remained. When looking at old maps the circle is present throughout the years, from 1898, 1927-1937, and 1951. It wasn’t until 1979 that the circle disappeared from the map, and from the area completely.

University Circle, Inc. was founded in 1970, around the time the circle disappeared. The idea behind the organization was to further build up and develop the relationships of the neighborhoods around the circle.

The organization also developed housing and provided other resources for the community. This helped grow the area even further, and the surrounding area was forever changed going forward.

Most people who visit the area today wouldn’t know the area’s history or that it was once home to an actual circle which the name suggests. 

Kylie Breining, a senior at Case Western Reserve, has visited the area nearly daily as she says she uses those walks to clear her mind and relieve distress. Originally from Michigan, Breining was shocked to learn this about the area.

“I never really thought about what this place used to be like,” Breining said. “When I came here my first thought was, this isn’t a circle, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and the beauty of the area.”

Breining isn’t alone. Even locals have similar thoughts and feelings.

Kristen Kirkwood, who has lived in University Circle since she graduated from Ohio State, is a member of the Cleveland Museum of Art. She said she can only imagine what the area was like back in its prime.

“I come here so often that I have always wanted to see what this area was like as it was changing over the years, a lot of these structures have just either grown or been modified or added on to. It would have been awesome to see the circle in its heyday but I still enjoy the area now,” Kirkwood said.

When you look back at Cleveland’s history, the growth and development of the circle has to be one of the most interesting pieces to visit. One can only look forward to see how the area will continue to grow over the coming years.