Clevland, Ohio Wyland Whaling Wall 75

History of the Cleveland, Ohio Wyland Whaling Wall 75

-Inner City Whales

Whaling wall 75

This massive mural, Wyland’s “Song of the Whales” overlooks Lake Erie off the side of the Cleveland Public Power Plant and was dedicated in October 1997 by the Mayor of Cleveland, Michael White. Standing at massive 32,000 square feet, this mural of humpback whales has often elicited the question: why whales in Cleveland? Yet, the answer is simple. How we treat our waters affects all life on the planet. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River fire, caused by industrial
pollution, put Cleveland’s history with water into the public eye and inspired Wyland’s work. This environmental call to action urges the public to safeguard their water resources, Lake Erie especially.
On the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River fire in 2019, the mural was restored. This restoration coincided with The Wyland Foundation’s National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation and played a part in driving the public towards conservation and water stewardship. Urban activities impact downstream freshwater and marine ecosystems, and thanks to initiatives from The Wyland Foundation, we can continue to drive awareness of that
fact.

Did You Know?

The creation of the Clean Water Act in 1972 was a direct result of the Cuyahoga River fire in 1969. Despite Lake Erie’s small size, it is an active member of the diverse ecosystem that makes up the Great Lakes and provides over 11 million people with drinking water.

“Song of the Whales” is a beautiful mural that hopes to draw attention to efforts to conserve our waterways and oceans. In the late 1990s, Lake Erie faced another threat from harmful algal blooms. The city’s efforts to remove these blooms led to an increase in public awareness of the importance of using our land and water responsibly and encouraged Cleveland residents to take action to mitigate their impact.

Cleveland Public Power Plant
5251 North Marginal Road
Cleveland, Ohio
300 Feet Long x 108 Feet High
Dedicated October 6th, 1997
By Michael White, Mayor of Cleveland

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