The Cuyahoga River: Flowing Through Time

As you make your way through this part of the  exhibit, ask yourself these questions:

What role did the Cuyahoga River play?

Can you name some positive and negative consequences of the industrial period in Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River? 

At the height of industrialization, Cleveland enjoyed great wealth. The industry situated along the Cuyahoga brought in millions of dollars to the city. With the emergence of the steel and oil industries, Cleveland grew in acreage and population. John D. Rockefeller Sr.'s  Standard Oil played a significant role in Cleveland's growth. Money was flowing up the Cuyahoga everyday in commercial industry. At the same time, these industries cared little about the natural environment of the river.  It had become an industrial canal. Pollution reigned supreme thus causing numerous fires on the river during this period.