Toledo

Overview

With over 300,000 residents Toledo is the fourth largest of many great cities in Ohio and known throughout the industrial Midwest as the "Glass City" because of its long history of innovation in all aspects of the glass industry. Toledo offers many gems for Midwest travelers.  First, there's the Toledo Museum of Art.  Funded by a giant endowment the museum offers some extremely important works including The Crowning of St. Catherine by Peter Paul Rubens. Of particular note, is the Cloister Gallery, only several of this quality exist in the country. There is also a great glass art gallery and a few choice classical antiquities.  In addition, a wing shared with The University of Toledo was designed by Frank Gehry and exhibits his style in a wonderfully compact package. Also see the Glass Pavillion across Monroe Street (opens in summer 2006). This innovative, breathtaking addition to the campus designed by Tokyo-based architects Sejima and Nishizawa  will provide in-depth examination of the glass medium—from creation to interpretation—through state-of-the-art glassmaking facilities juxtaposed with works of art from the Museum’s world renowned collection of glass.

Toledo's Zoological Gardens is consistently rated as one of the nation's ten best and offers family fun.  There's plenty to eat including a collection of resturants called "The Docks" and the popular Tony Packo's Cafe, on Toledo's East Side and downtown (don't go to the west side Packo's or you'll miss the true experience). You might remember Klinger talking about it on M*A*S*H.  Speaking of Klinger, the Toledo Mud Hens now play in a great stadium downtown...more

History