Tom L. Johnson Monument

Portrait of Tom L. Johnson sitting in a simple art nouveau armchair. In his right hand he holds a copy of Henry George's political philosophy tome "Progress and Poverty." His face, soft and friendly, hints of a smile. His left hand is curled over the knob of the chair's arm in a relaxed fashion. Both of his feet rest serenely on the base. This statue is a man at peace: a level-headed leader. He is a thinker and a planner, the great mind behind some critical decisions at a formative stage in Cleveland's history.

Johnson was the mayor of Cleveland from 1901 to 1909. During that time he completely transformed the city into the industrial kingpin it was during the early 20th century. Lauded as a consummate "municipal technician" , Johnson paved hundreds of miles of new streets, installed new parks, built numerous public facilities, sporting centers, playgrounds, etc. He also began work on the West Side Market that still operates today as a landmark food market in the US. Johnson was instrumental in incorporating electricity, public transit, steel, and a number of other infrastructure items into the city's economy. Without Tom Johnson, it is safe to say that the Cleveland of today would be a much smaller, very different city.