Discovery tours for residents and visitors. Our walks will help you pilot Lakewood's streets and sidewalks and will illuminate the history they enfold. They are easy walks that follow our gentle terrain. Lakewood encompasses 5½ square miles of tree-lined streets with friendly neighborhoods, vibrant commercial districts, distinctive experiences and connection to a heritage rich in architecture and community pride. On the north and west Lakewood borders two of the areas tremendous natural resources — Lake Erie and the Cleveland Metropark's Rocky River Reservation.

Put on your walking shoes and stride into the life, the lore, the lure of Lakewood. Each History Walk tours a different part of the city, doling out juicy tidbits on the perils of pioneers, defiant women, early auto makers, one-room schoolhouses, and grisly murders. As you stroll the streets, you’ll come to know the people who lived along the routes, some in houses still existing. Dazzle your friends by telling them where a cemetery used to be – right downtown! Learn about doctors and traveling clergymen making visits across vast forests – always alert for bears. Read of small faithful groups contributing sweat, prayers and money to build the first churches. Marvel at the earliest bridges crossing our rivers, the former Scenic Amusement Park where the marina now stands, and how youngsters had fun 100 years ago. Know who streets were named after, what the city’s original name was, and when trains first steamed through town. All the while, you'll enjoy the outdoors and the multitude of benefits from walking!

Five History Walks were organized by the Lakewood Public Library and The Lakewood Historical Society under sponsorship of the Valley Vagabonds. The Valley Vagabonds organization promotes and hosts non-competitive leisure activities such as walking and hiking (known as Volksmarches) for fun, fitness, and friendship.

Lakewood Emerald Canyon Walk

The Emerald Canyon History Walk focuses on the western end of Lakewood, traveling briefly into Rocky River and then through a segment of the Metroparks. It highlights early taverns, amusements and, on the return down Detroit Avenue, snapshots of the earliest settlers and a scandalous murder among descendents.

The walk was originally held as an event in August, 2006 — the Fourth Annual Lakewood Volksmarch coinciding with the Lakewood Arts Festival. It is now open to anyone to enjoy at any time — just pick up or print your route packet and start walking! You'll delight at how one man’s mansion became, in turn, a country club, a sanitarium and the police department and jail – complete with cream in prisoners’ coffee! 

The walk begins and ends at the Main Branch of the Lakewood Public Library at 15425 Detroit Avenue. Walkers can choose either the full 10K walk or a shorter 5K route — about 6 miles or 3 miles, respectively. The walk is easy, primarily on sidewalks, and is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs — although the 10K walk includes inclines entering and exiting the Metroparks (the 5K route does not have these inclines).

The route pamphlet, including historic information of sites along the route, is available at the Main Branch Library (15425 Detroit Avenue) – or here for download: Lakewood Emerald Canyon 10K [pdf] 4,167KB, 18 pages - Lakewood Emerald Canyon 5K [pdf] 834K, 12 pages. (Please note the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view pdf format files.)

Lakewood Birdtown Trail

This History Walk focuses on the southeastern end of Lakewood. The Birdtown area, a village-within-a-city neighborhood, well known for its unique ethnic heritage and early 20th century architectural styles, is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

The walk was originally held as an event in August, 2004 — the Second Annual Lakewood Volksmarch coinciding with the Lakewood Arts Festival. It is now open to anyone to enjoy at any time — just pick up or print your route packet and start walking! As you go, imagine an Eastern European village right in a corner of the city!

The walk begins and ends at the Madison Branch of the Lakewood Public Library at 13229 Madison Avenue. Walkers can choose either the full 10K walk or a shorter 5K route. The walk is easy, primarily on sidewalks, and is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

The route pamphlet, including historic information of sites along the route, is available at the Madison Branch Library (13229 Madison Avenue) – or here for download: Lakewood Birdtown Trail 10K [pdf] 995KB, 21 pages - Lakewood Birdtown Trail 5K [pdf], 733K, 10 pages. (Please note the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view pdf format files.)

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast History Walk takes trekkers to the lakefront at the northeastern edge of Lakewood with its distinctive community of residential high-rises plus loads of history along the way.

The walk was originally held as an event in August, 2007 — the Fifth Annual Lakewood Volksmarch coinciding with the Lakewood Arts Festival. It is now open to anyone to enjoy at any time — just pick up or print your route packet and start walking! You'll enjoy views of glorious mansions (and peeks at 1890s swimwear).

The walk begins and ends at the Madison Branch of the Lakewood Public Library at 13229 Madison Avenue. The walk is easy, primarily on sidewalks, and is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

The route pamphlet, including historic information of sites along the route: Gold Coast History Walk 10K [pdf] . Preview the 10K route or 5K route [pdf]. (Please note the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view pdf format files.)

Lakewood History Walk

Learn about the origins of certain street names, backgrounds of buildings, former estates of the wealthy, and murder most foul!

This walk, in north central Lakewood, was originally organized as an event in August, 2003 — the First Annual Lakewood Volksmarch coinciding with the Lakewood Arts Festival. It is now available year-round, with registration in a log book at the starting point, the Lakewood Main Library. Visit our Volksmarch page for information.

The walk begins and ends at the Main Branch of the Lakewood Public Library at 15425 Detroit Avenue. Walkers can choose either the full 10K walk or a shorter 5K route — about 6 miles or 3 miles, respectively.

Clifton Park Trail

This History Walk will take you to Lakewood's northwest corner, to the historic Clifton Park neighborhood on a bluff above Lake Erie. While you travel through its winding streets with stately homes, you'll learn about such places as the former Beech Grove Beer Garden and the Cliff House – with a manager of ill-repute!

The walk was originally held as an event in August, 2005 — the Third Annual Lakewood Volksmarch coinciding with the Lakewood Arts Festival. It is now available as a year-round Volksmarch. Visit our Volksmarch page for information.

The walk begins and ends at the Main Branch of the Lakewood Public Library at 15425 Detroit Avenue. Walkers can choose either the full 10K walk or a shorter 5K route — about 6 miles or 3 miles, respectively.

Hidden Victorian Architecture of Lakewood

But wait - there's more history! This outing was designed as a driving tour but walkers will find the distances manageable. By looking at the map, the points of interest can easily be divided and grouped into shorter on-foot tours. For reference: from tour point 4 to tour point 8 is under 3 miles. Visit Hidden Victorian Architecture of Lakewood for the route.

Lakewood Public Library - Lakewood Historical Society