9 Strangest Landmarks in Ohio

Ohio's tourist bureau calls the state "The Heart of It All," noting that 50 percent of the US population lives within 500 miles of Columbus, the state capital. Many people travel across Ohio's roads each year, whether they are visiting the state or passing on the way to another destination. When traveling through the Buckeye State, you won't want to miss these strange landmarks. Ohio, which became a state in 1803 and is named for the Ohio River (meaning "great" in Iroquois), is full of many captivating sights. Some are historical, some are contemporary, and some are just plain weird. The next time you find yourself in Ohio, each of these nine unique landmarks is definitely worth taking the time to see.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Cleveland

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a tribute to those who fought in the Civil War. Sitting within Cleveland's Public Square, the monument was designed by Levi T. Scofield and was begun in 1879. It was finished and dedicated in 1894. The monument is made up of an elevated base with a Memorial Room surrounding a 125-foot column, upon which the Goddess of Freedom, defended by the Shield of Liberty, sits. Four groupings of bronze sculptures depicting battle scenes are contained on the bae, featuring infantry, cavalry, artillery, and navy. The inside of the Memorial Room lists Cuyahoga County residents who served in the Civil War, four bronze relief sculptures of the "Emancipation of the Slave," and busts of General James Burnett and Scofield himself, as well as six officers who died during the Civil War. The monument, which can easily be found in Cleveland's Public Square, is open to visitors daily, and admission is free.

World's Largest Basket, Dresden

Ask any basket lover, and they will tell you that Longaberger Baskets originated in Dresden, Ohio. Need more proof? Visit the World's Largest Basket there and see for yourself. The basket is listed in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Basket and was dedicated in 1980. The giant basket, which is actually a building, is the site of the former headquarters of the Longaberger Company, started in 1973 by Dave Longaberger. Whether you are a Longaberger fan or simply want to see a cool landmark, you can find it on the corner of Dresden's 5th and Main Streets.

Guardians of Traffic Monument, Hope Memorial Bridge, Cleveland

Imagine driving over a bridge, feeling protected by guardians as you do so. Four towering pylons, each side with a "Guardian of Traffic" atop them, sit at each end of the Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland. Created in 1932 and the only public Art Deco monument in the city, each of the guardians holds a different ground vehicle, including a covered wagon, hay wagon, passenger car, concrete mixer, dump truck, and two other trucks. The guardians, carved from 43-foot-tall sandstone slabs by Henry Hering from designs by Frank Walker, are intended to protect all who traverse the bridge. They are a unique and fascinating landmark in Cleveland that has become part of the city's landscape. To see the Guardians, head to the Hope Memorial Bridge, which spans the Cuyahoga River between Lorain and Carnegie Avenues in Cleveland.

Statue of Leatherlips, Dublin

Visitors to Dublin's Scioto Park cannot miss the 12-foot-high sculpture of Wyandot Chief Leatherlips, who lived from 1747 to 1810. Erected in 1990, the sculpture was created by artist Ralph Helmick and consists of a head of stacked and mortared native limestone and stacked limestones along its sides, creating a small enclosure. Leatherslips, who was a peaceful Wyandot tribal leader, is said to have been executed by another Wyandot tribesman near the site of the statue, along the banks of the Scioto River. You can see Leatherslips for yourself by going to Scioto Park on Riverside Drive in Dublin.

World's Largest Cuckoo Clock, Sugarcreek

In the center of the Swiss Village in Sugarcreek, you will find what was listed as the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1977. Standing at more than 23 feet tall and 24 feet wide, a cuckoo bird pops out of the clock every half hour. Then, figures of a band emerge, playing Swiss polka music, and a dancing couple emerges. The clock was moved in 2012 to this location, having been built in 1972 and sitting outside a restaurant in Wilmot. The clock was purchased by Walnut Creek Cheese and donated to Sugarcreek, a Swiss-themed tourist town, in 2012. Since 1997, however, a cuckoo clock in Triberg-Schonach, Germany, claims to be the world's largest cuckoo clock, with its bird alone measuring 14 feet long and the pendulum 26 feet long. Still surely the largest cuckoo clock in the United States, Sugarcreek's clock held the world's largest distinction first. If you want to visit it, head to the corner of Sugarcreek's Main Street and Broadway. Admission is free.

Haserot Crying Angel, Cleveland

You might consider this landmark to be reverential or just creepy. Also known as the Angel of Death Victorious, the Haserot Crying Angel guards the grave of Frances Henry Haserot in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland. The bronze angel, sculpted in 1924 by Herman Matzen, sits atop a marble gravestone and appears to be crying black tears. It is one of the most visited spaces in the cemetery, as many have heard of this marvel and want to see it for themselves. Some claim that the statue is haunted. None of the original Haserot family are left to provide additional information about the angel. The cemetery's managers note that you can visit the site at Lake View Cemetery seven days a week at 12316 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland.

American Sign Museum, Cincinnati

Established in Cincinnati in 1999, the American Sign Museum preserves, archives, and exhibits the history of American signage from the past century. More than 3,800 signs dating from the 1800s to the 1970s are displayed, along with materials used to make the signs. Some of the most notable signs within the largest sign museum in the US include the McDonald's sign from 1963, the Howard Johnson's sign from 1958, and the Earl Scheib sign with cars rotating around a spinning globe from the 1950s. You won't see a collection of American signs like these anywhere else. The American Sign Museum is on Monmouth Avenue in Cincinnati and is open Wednesdays through Sundays. If you become a member, admission is free; otherwise, adults pay $20 for admission, seniors pay $15, and children 12 and under are free.

World's Largest Rubber Stamp, Cleveland

Within Willard Park in Cleveland, you'll find the World's Largest Rubber Stamp, also known as the Free Stamp. It measures 28 feet 10 inches x 26 feet x 49 feet. This sculpture of a rubber stamp, which says "FREE" on its stamping area, was created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in 1985. It was commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio to be displayed at the BP Tower in Public Square. BP donated the sculpture to the city of Cleveland in 1991. Today, it sits at its new location, just a few blocks from its original site. See it for yourself, for free, at Willard Park, Lakeside Avenue East, and East 9th Street in Cleveland.

American Queen Paddle Wheel, Cincinnati

Located on the Riverwalk in downtown Cincinnati is a replica of an original paddle wheel from the American Queen riverboat. Also known as the National Steamboat Monument or Whistle Grove, this 30-foot wheel is made up of one bright red wheel and 24 stainless steel columns. It is positioned about 40 feet above the Ohio River, plays music, and emits steam when visitors pass. The replica paddle wheel, which weighs 60 tons, was created by artist Christopher Janney and installed in 2002. Find this unusual functional replica along the Ohio River Trail, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way in Cleveland.

These one-of-a-kind Ohio landmarks help to frame the extraordinary history of the state. From a monument honoring Civil War veterans in Cleveland, to a humongous basket in Dresden, to a massive cuckoo clock in Sugarcreek, these sights all lend themselves to the eccentricity and unconventionality that defines Ohio. Locals and visitors alike won't want to miss seeing each of these strange Ohio landmarks.