The Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969.
It was not the first fire on the Cuyahoga, but a month after the fire an image of it burning appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. The image of a river on fire sparked a national conversation about industrial water pollution. Cleveland residents had been actively working to clean up the river prior to the fire. In 1968, residents had passed a $100 million bond initiative to fund the Cuyahoga’s cleanup.
Thanks to the fire and the Times' article, Cleveland represented a turn in environmental issues. This event also brought Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes to the forefront along with his brother US Representative Louis Stokes. They testified before Congress for federal involvement in pollution control which would lead to the passage of the federal Clean Water Act of 1972.
Fast forward to now and the 50th Anniversary of the Cuyahoga River Burning!
The kids and I celebrated by exploring the Detroit-Superior Bridge. Or, for those who were born after 1989 or whose parents could not adopt the new name, the Veterans Memorial Bridge.The first few years of Ingenuity Festivals were held under the Detroit-Superior bridge. And, on Labor Day and Memorial Day, the bridge is open for tours. This is the first time my oldest will remember walking across the Cuyahoga River. While we didn't go through the old subway tunnels, we did cross the bridge, see some exhibits, and were amazed by the lighting art installations.
