The Estonian Cultural Garden Federation is proud to announce the 50th anniversary of this garden, dedicated to the culture of Estonia.
Cleveland area Estonians, visiting dignitaries and members of the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation are expected to attend our program at the garden on June 26, 2016 at 1 pm. The keynote speaker will be the Honorable Marki Tihhonova-Kreek, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Estonian Embassy in Washington, DC. We have been working hard to ensure the garden is looking its best for this festive event. Over $50K has been raised and spent on restoration and improvement of the fifty-year-old garden.
It was originally planned and constructed by the Cleveland Estonian Cultural Garden Federation in 1966, under the direction of architect Herk Visnapuu and artist/sculptor Clarence VanDuzer. The monument is a concrete pedestal that reaches for the sky, carrying a bronze flame and is inscribed with the words of “Kalevipoeg’s” last verse “Aga ükskord algab aega…” (One day the age will dawn…) that portends a positive future for the people of Estonia. The Estonian garden is between the Finnish and Latvian Gardens on Martin Luther King Drive in Rockefeller Park on the East side of Cleveland.
For fifty years, local Estonians have commemorated Victory Day and Jaanipäev (St. John’s Day) in the park, surrounded by nature and currently 28 other nationality gardens. This is one of the few places where the Estonian flag has waved for fifty years in the USA. This is the only park dedicated to honor and respect the cultural diversity of our city and the nation. The Cleveland Cultural Garden was established in 1916, with the opening of the Shakespeare Garden and has since grown to celebrate 29 nationalities, with many more being planned by local ethnic groups.
Garden Keepers:
Erika and Aavo Puussaar
Paula and Toomas Tubalkain
Linda and Andres Riiel
Teevi and David Champa
