Officials with the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument this week announced dates for its popular spring events, beginning in April and concluding with a Memorial Day observance in May.

These events will offer insights into the architecture of the monument and pay tribute to the men and women of Cuyahoga County who served during the Civil War and continue to serve today.

Designed by renowned Cleveland architect Levi Scofield, the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument was built in 1894 to commemorate the valor and patriotism of 9,000 Cuyahoga County soldiers and sailors who served in the Civil War. It was dedicated on July 4, 1894.

Below the monument is a labyrinth of concentric circles made of unfinished sandstone described to FreshWater in 2019 by former executive director Tim Daley as much like European cathedral crypts.
While the underground structure is often thought of as a maze of “tunnels,” Daley said the basement is used for storage most of the year. The lower level’s true role is to support the weight of the massive monument—made of 140 tons of black Quincy granite (with an additional 100 tons in the outdoor sanctuary, the statues, and the roof).

Tunnel tours
The somewhat eerie “tunnels” continue to be a popular draw to the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument, and tours will be held on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Online ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 2 through the monument’s website. The $5 tickets typically sell out, but visitors can also go on standby for any day-of tour openings.

Tours last approximately 30 minutes and include a guided walk-through of the monument tunnels and will feature guest speakers in the Memorial Room. All proceeds and donations during the event support Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument programming.

Veterans’ Mental Health Fair and Decoration Day
The fourth annual Veterans’ Mental Health Fair will take place on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Public Square outside of the Monument.

Concentric circle tunnels serve as support system for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.The free, public event brings the community together to shine a spotlight on the regional organizations dedicated to supporting veterans’ mental health.

The Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument will also host its Memorial Day service on Traditional Decoration Day, Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Remarks will be made by a local veteran on the Monument’s northwest steps.

There will be tours of the Memorial Room, which features marble walls inscribed with the names of the 9,000 Union soldiers from Cuyahoga County; four bronze relief panels—the Women's Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid Society, the beginning of the War in Ohio, President Lincoln’s Emancipation of the Slaves; and the end of the War at City Point, Virginia—and bronze busts of Gen. James Barnett and Levi T. Scofield, along with six officers.

The Monument will be open until 5:30 p.m. on May 30, and everything is free and open to the public.

“We welcome the public to explore the hidden spaces beneath this historic landmark and, more importantly, to reflect on the service and sacrifice it represents,” said Monument executive director Greg Palumbo. “From the stories preserved within our tunnels to our gatherings on Memorial Day, these events offer an opportunity to connect past and present, honoring the men and women of Cuyahoga County who served our country.”

The Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument, 3 Public Square, 44114, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (216) 443-6878.

Tickets for the tunnels tour go on sale Thursday, April 2 at 10 a.m. through the website. Refresh the page until you are able to click the link and purchase tickets. If you are not able to secure tickets, standby lines will be available during the tours. Standby does not guarantee a tour, but staff members will do their best to get everyone through the line.