History & Design:

The Croatian Cultural Garden was dedicated 21 years after Croatia gained its independence from Yugoslavia and created after the spaced known as the Yugoslav Cultural Garden became the Slovenian Cultural Garden. Croatians arrived in Cleveland in waves of immigration beginning in the 1860s. Today, they reside throughout Northeast Ohio and still gather at the American-Croatian Lodge in suburban Eastlake.

Flowing between the Croatian Cultural Garden’s upper and lower levels is a waterfall that symbolizes the many waterfalls in Croatia, particularly in Plitvice Lakes and Krka Falls. The lower garden walkway is heart-shaped like the “licitar,” which is a popular symbol in Croatian folklore. In its center is the Immigrant Mother statue, sculpted by Joseph Turkaly, a Croatian-born Cleveland artist. The base of statue includes the Croatian Glagoltic alphabet, along with a Grb, or the Croatian shield.

The upper level is meant to be a standard plaza shape, for gatherings and performances. The baptismal font on the upper level is a replica of a Prince Viseslay font, and it represents the conversion of Croatia to Christianity in the Middle Ages. The six benches are made from Brac stone imported from Croatia.