CLEVELAND (WJW) – The highly-anticipated Superman statue in a brand new plaza in downtown Cleveland was unveiled Saturday morning, where many attendees donned capes and Superman shirts to celebrate the occasion.
The Siegel & Shuster Society, whose mission is to educate people about Superman’s origins in Cleveland, has worked toward bringing a Superman statue to Cleveland for years. Now the dream is officially a reality.
Fans of the “Man of Steel” can get a close-up look at the stainless steel Superman placed atop an 18-foot tall pillar, along with three bronze figures of Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Siegel’s wife Joanne, who was the inspiration for Lois Lane.
Additionally, there is a phone booth with Clark Kent’s clothes and glasses inside of it, forming a full tribute plaza outside of the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
Jerry Siegel created Superman and Joe Shuster was the illustrator when they were teens attending Glenville High School in the city.
Superman is widely considered as the first superhero to show up in the comic book medium.
“People all over the world know who he is, but they don’t know it started here, and that’s our mission statement. We want the world to know it started in Cleveland. This is the birthplace,” Gary Kaplan, president of the Siegel & Shuster Society previously told FOX 8 News.
Kaplan spoke ahead of Saturday’s statue unveiling along with Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, District 8 Cuyahoga County Councilman Pernel Jones, Jr. and family members of both Siegel and Shuster.
“The Superman statue and the Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster Tribute Plaza honor two creative minds and celebrate Cleveland’s legacy of imagination, resilience, and hope,” said Ronayne. “Superman was born in Cuyahoga County, and his story reflects our own: ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make the world better. This plaza is a point of pride for our community, serving as a gathering place for families, fans, and future heroes to be inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead.”
Jones said the Superman statue is right where it belongs: at the center of the city where it was created.
“It is an iconic landmark and it my hope to see it broadcast to the world one day on a commercial during a playoff game on one of our three major sports franchises. That translates into a strong economy, a destination location for those around the world. The whole world knows Superman, and now we need the world to know that Superman is from right here in Cleveland, Ohio.”
You can see the Superman statue outside of the Huntington Convention Center at the corner of St. Clair and Ontario downtown.
Click here to learn more about the Siegel & Shuster Society.
