Central in Cleveland in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Honorable Carl B. Stokes
Photographed by Craig Doda, March 7, 2026
1. Honorable Carl B. Stokes Marker
Carl B. Stokes was born June 21, 1927. His father, Charles, died when Carl was less than two years old. He grew up poor in Cleveland living with his mother, Louise, a domestic worker, and his brother, Louis. They lived in the Outhwaite Homes projects and Carl attended East Technical High School. He served honorably in the United States Army. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and received a law degree from Cleveland Marshall Law School. He was the first African American democrat elected to the Ohio legislature. He was also elected Mayor of Cleveland becoming the first African American Mayor of a major American city. He was elected judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court and was appointed by President Bill Clinton as Ambassador to the Seychelles. He died on April 3, 1996.
Erected 2003 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission; The Cinergy Foundation; The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 64-18.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Government & Politics • Military. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection
this page online
Location. 41° 29.306′ N, 81° 38.901′ W. Marker is in Cleveland, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is in Central. It is at the intersection of Woodland Avenue and East 59th Street, on the right when traveling west on Woodland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6001 Woodland Ave, Cleveland OH 44104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ohio’s Lake Erie Shore and in the Western Reserve. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Freedom Seekers and their Supporters (approx. 0.3 miles away); Woodland Cemetery Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Woodland Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Monument
Photographed by Craig Doda, March 7, 2026
2. Honorable Carl B. Stokes Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 22, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
