Roadside Ohio: Gravesites, Memorials and Monuments

Alan Freed’s Grave, Cleveland 
The likes of David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and more have found Cleveland a fortuitous landing spot for their careers. The legacy of these artists and several others are found in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along the Lake Erie shore. Not far away is the final resting place of Alan Freed, the Cleveland disc jockey responsible for popularizing the term “rock ’n’ roll” by way of his radio show in the 1950s. Freed also organized what is now considered the first-ever rock concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball, in 1952. Since 2016, Freed’s grave has been marked by a jukebox gravestone within Cleveland’s Lake View Cemetery, commemorating not only his contribution to the genre, but to American culture. 12316 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44106, 216/421-2665, lakeviewcemetery.com


Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue, Columbus 
Most people know him as The Terminator, many people know him as an iconic bodybuilder and still others know him as the former governor of California. For Jim Lorimer, the organizer of the 1970 Mr. World Competition held in Columbus, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a friend. It was because of that friendship that an 8-foot-tall statue of Schwarzenegger now resides outside the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Schwarzenegger commissioned artist Ralph Crawford to design small statues to be given out as awards at the annual Arnold Sports Festival. In 1989, Arnold commissioned Crawford again to create the life-size statue that now greets visitors outside the convention center. 400 N. High St., Columbus 43215, 614/431-2600, arnoldsports.com


Captain Hook’s Tomb, Stockport 
Captain Hook was laid to rest in Stockport after his work as a ship captain on the Muskingum River. Isaac Newton Hook was a boat-maker and engineer, which proved to be instrumental in his end-of-life plans, as he designed his own grave. Hook would canoe to the opposite side of the river and build his grave, where he was laid to rest just above the water level of the river in 1906. He was heavily involved in the construction of a hand-operated lock-and-dam system, which cemented the Muskingum River as the only river in America with such a system, a title that remains intact today. 1790 St. Rte. 376, Stockport 43787, 740/962-2533


Chief Leatherlips Monument, Dublin 
Carve out time to go see this testament to tranquility and calm in the Columbus suburb of Dublin. Chief Leatherlips was a Wyandot leader who called for peace among Native American tribes and the settlers who came to America. He called the region home for all his life, until he was executed by a fellow tribesman near what is now Scioto Park. Artist Ralph Helmick was commissioned to create a monument to the leader in 1990 and Scioto Park has been under the watchful gaze of Chief Leatherlips ever since. The monument is made up of carefully placed limestone slabs kept together by wire and mortar. 7377 Riverside Dr., Dublin 43016, 614/410-4550


Dave Grohl Alley, Warren 
The alley behind Warren’s Market Street was unremarkable until 2009, when it was made into a vibrant tribute to Warren-born two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Grohl. While the Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer continues his career playing music for the world, the place where he grew up pays homage to him in an alley with two gargantuan drumsticks. Those drumsticks weigh 900 pounds each, making them the world’s largest set. This tribute to Grohl puts Warren on the map as a tourist destination for rock ’n’ roll fans eager to see where this legend grew up. trulytrumbull.com/plan-your-visit/dave-grohl-alley


Dean Martin Mural, Steubenville 
The Rat Pack is engraved in music history from their musical success in the ’50s and ’60s, with names like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis leading the way. Steubenville native Dean Martin, born in 1917, was also a part of this legendary group and is known for hit songs like “That’s Amore.” In Martin’s honor, artist Robert Dever painted this mural that showcases different aspects of Martin’s life. Depictions of four different eras surround a larger image of the crooner, including one with fellow Rat Pack member Jerry Lewis, another with Sinatra and Davis and the an image from his show. The final panel depicts Martin’s return to Steubenville in 1950 with his wife. 264 S. Hollywood Blvd., Steubenville 43952, 740/283-4935, visitsteubenville.com/what-to-do/steubenville-murals


Gene Autry Mural, Kenton 
Gene Autry, the famed country singer and dancer that gained traction in the 1930s, is prominently featured on a massive brick wall in Kenton’s downtown. This tribute to the Singing Cowboy is displayed for all to see, and resembles the impact that Autry had on the town, not only for the arts, but also for its commerce. Autry Cap Guns brought business to the city’s toy factory. His lasting impact on the community was captured in the form of mural by Keith Hasenbalg, which took a mere 15 days to complete. It depicts Autry on horseback in front of the Kenton Hardware Co. Corner of North Market and West Franklin Streets, Kenton 43326, 419/675-4098


The Gilboa Bull, Gilboa
A testament to the strength of the town of Gilboa stands in the likeness of a giant fiberglass bull. The statue has served as road marker for all who have passed along this part of state route 224 in Putnam County since the 1970s. Peter Diller decided that the unintentional mascot should come home to Gilboa when he was driving through Toledo and saw it next to a bar. Diller and his brother brought the 16-foot-tall beast home with them as a reminder of the strength and resilience of their small town, which has just a couple hundred residents. On the corner of state Route 224 and Pearl Street, Gilboa 45875


Merchant Ball, Marion
Marion Cemetery is home to a number of sailor-and-soldier monuments, including one of the nation’s largest World War II memorials outside of Washington D.C. and the gravesite of President Warren G. Harding. One of the more unusual finds in the cemetery is a 5,200-pound granite ball sitting atop a 5-foot pedestal. The family of C.B. Merchant placed what is known as the Merchant Ball in 1896. The black granite ball rotates ever so slightly over the course of time, as evidenced by its one unpolished spot, and leaves curious visitors wondering what could be making the ball moves. 620 Delaware Ave., Marion 4302, historicmarioncemetery.org/point-of-interest/merchant-revolving-ball


Passenger Pigeon Memorial, Cincinnati
A favorite of hunters at the turn of the 20th century, the once-common passenger pigeon has been extinct since 1914. The sole remaining wild passenger pigeon was killed in 1900, but the last of the species was kept at the Cincinnati Zoo, until it died in 1914. Although the birds have been gone for over a century, the Cincinnati Zoo keeps their memory alive. The Passenger Pigeon Memorial is a large pagoda dedicated to the birds. Visitors can keep an eye out for a small statue of the Passenger Pigeon, Martha, who resided at the zoo. 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati 45220, cincinnatizoo.org

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More Roadside Ohio: Bizzare Homes | Food Finds | Gravesites, Memorials and Monuments | Larger Than Life | Man-Made Marvels | Unusual Museums and Objects | Wildlife & Natural Wonders