Each month, we feature a different Ohio city as part of our #GOPCThread Series, Ohio Community Spotlight. This month, we highlight the city of Toledo!
Today we are exploring @city_of_toledo, incorporated in 1837, and now home to over 266,000 residents. Join us as we explore all this “Glass City” has to offer!
Located in the former Great Black Swamp that covered much of Northeast Ohio, the Toledo region was not easily accessible to explorers. New settlers dubbed the area “Frog Town”, due to the swampy conditions.
As the Miami-Erie and other canals were completed in the mid-1800s, Toledo became a growing port. Toledo then developed a robust rail system, making it a key rail center in the U.S and leading to economic prosperity for the city.
One of the largest cities in Ohio by the late 1800s, Toledo was an industrial center and the second largest railroad center in the country, after Chicago. This led to a boom in local industries including carriage makers, breweries, furniture crafters, and glass companies.
Industrialists harnessed the Great Black Swamp's natural gas and silica-rich sandstone for glassmaking. These natural resources + Toledo’s port and rail access were attractive to 20th century auto manufacturers as well.
Poor working conditions in Toledo’s factories resulted in the election of the city’s first Progressive Era Mayor, Samuel M. “Golden Rule” Jones, who instituted an 8-hour workday and paid vacations for Toledo city employees, with hopes that other businesses would follow.
By the 1920’s, Toledo was booming. One of the largest automotive manufacturing hubs in the country, the city’s largest employer, Willys Overland, produced more cars than any other U.S. manufacturer other than Ford.
The Rust Belt Era did not spare Toledo, as the city suffered economic decline upon closure of many of its factories. Today, however, the city is seeing a resurgence of opportunity in education and medicine, such as one of the city’s largest employers, ProMedica Health Systems.
The Toledo Museum of Art is one of the city’s many gems and was voted America’s favorite art museum by Modern Art Notes in 2010. Holding a major collection of glass art, a call back to Toledo’s “Glass City” history, the @ToledoMuseum’s Glass Pavilion cannot be missed!
Toledo was one of the first cities in the country to establish a permanent funding source for public art. The “One Percent for Art” ordinance was passed in 1977 and is still in effect today. 1% of the city’s annual capital improvement budget is reserved for public art and its preservation and conservation.
History buffs, listen up! @city_of_toledo has one of the largest collections of late Victorian houses in the U.S. The city’s historic Old West End neighborhood is home to Colonial, Georgian, Italian Renaissance, Queen Ann, and Dutch Colonials.
There is no shortage of events to attend in @city_of_toledo. From the Glass City marathon in the spring to the Greek American Festival in the fall, to @ToledoZoo’s Lights Before Christmas, there is something for all ages and all seasons!
No visit to Toledo is complete without a stop at @tonypackos which has been in business since 1932! Best known for their Hungarian-style hot dogs covered in spicy chili sauce, Tony Packo’s Café became famous after Toledo Native Jamie Farr mentioned the restaurant on M*A*S*H.
While there, be sure to check out the wall of celebrity hot dog buns. A tradition since Burt Reynolds visit in 1972 when he signed a real hot dog bun. Today, celebrity visitors to the restaurant sign a foam ‘bun’ that is displayed on a wall in the restaurant.
Come cheer on the Toledo @MudHens at Fifth Third Field! The city’s Minor League Baseball team got its name from the original field’s location near marshland that was inhabited by American coots, a bird common to wetlands.
The Glass City Metropark is a major attraction on the city’s riverfront including a pollinator play area and immersive water feature. In June, the project was awarded a $19 million federal grant to continue work on the five-mile multi-use trail. Congratulations, @MyMetroparks!
Already planning your trip to @city_of_toledo? Discover other Ohio cities to explore along the way in our #GOPCThread. See you next month!
