The Glidden House is Cleveland's most charming small hotel. It was built in 1910 for Frank and Mary Glidden, of the family behind the Glidden paint company, as a grand French Gothic-style home on Ford Drive in University Circle, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Case Western Reserve University bought the house in 1953, and it reopened as a hotel in 1989. Today the original mansion holds the public rooms and a handful of special rooms, including the Mansion Suite, with wood paneling, fireplaces and period details, while additional guest rooms, from traditional queens and kings to modern rooms, sit in an adjoining wing. A complimentary European-style breakfast is included, and the lobby lounge is a comfortable place to sit in the evening. Guests consistently mention on-site parking and the walkable setting, a rare combination in University Circle, which is home to Cleveland's richest cluster of museums, gardens and concert halls.
Location and getting around: University Circle is a leafy cultural district about fifteen minutes east of downtown, and from the Glidden House you can walk to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland History Center, the Botanical Garden and the restaurants of Little Italy. The HealthLine bus on Euclid Avenue runs into downtown for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the theatres, and the Red Line rapid transit also stops in the area. Case Western Reserve University and the major hospitals are on the doorstep, which keeps the hotel busy with visiting academics and families.
Rooms and who it suits: book a room in the original mansion for the full historic experience, or a room in the wing if you prefer more modern comforts. It suits couples on a culture-focused trip, art and history lovers who want to walk to the museums, parents visiting students, and anyone who would rather wake up among trees than among office towers. It is quieter in the evenings than downtown, which many guests see as a plus.
Good to know: breakfast is included in the rate, which adds to the value. Parking is on site, a real advantage in this busy district. Graduations, university events and medical conferences can fill the hotel quickly, so book early for those dates. If you want nightlife, downtown is a short ride away, while Little Italy's restaurants are a pleasant walk for dinner.
Why stay here
- ✓1910 mansion on the National Register
- ✓Complimentary European-style breakfast
- ✓Mansion Suite with period details
- ✓Lobby lounge
- ✓On-site parking
- ✓Walk to the Cleveland Museum of Art
- ✓Walk to Little Italy restaurants
- ✓Historic public rooms
Good questions
Is breakfast included at the Glidden House?+
Yes, a complimentary European-style breakfast is included. Guests mention hot items as well as pastries.
How far is the Glidden House from the Cleveland Museum of Art?+
It is within walking distance in University Circle. The History Center and Little Italy are also a short walk away.
What is the history of the Glidden House?+
It was built in 1910 for Frank and Mary Glidden and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Case Western Reserve University bought it in 1953, and it became a hotel in 1989.
