The banner of the iconic figure from the Lorain-Carnegie Hope Memorial Bridge represents a key part of Cleveland history.
In 1932, carvings of what was called "The Guardians of Transportation" were sculpted in stone and hardened into the four pylons of the bridge spanning the Cuyahoga River.
The images represent Cleveland's role in transportation.
Thousands of drivers pass by daily.
The Guardians watch over us.
The idea was to applaud Cleveland's role in transportation technology.
Here is something to think about: Cleveland was "Motown" before Detroit. Between 1897 and in to the early 20th Century, Cleveland was the automobile capital of the world. The Guardians of Transportation highlight that. At one time, dozens and dozens of car manufacturers were here. Cleveland was home to the Baker, the Wynton, the Peerless, White Motor trucks, and many others.
You can see many of them still on their wheels at the Western Reserve Historical Society of the Cleveland History Center.
So the new banner of the old image celebrates our Cleveland transportation history just as the Lorain-Carnegie Hope Memorial Bridge does.
If you look closely at the 210-foot-by-110 foot banner at the Sherwin Williams Building, you will see the image is actually composed of thousands of photographs submitted by Clevelanders.
In a way, we Greater Clevelanders celebrate ourselves. On the bridge, each Guardian holds an automobile.
In many ways, each Guardian sculpted into stone and the one on the big banner holds our history.
And holds us.