I-X Center
Encyclopedia
The International Exposition Center, also known as the I-X Center, is a convention and exhibition hall
located in Cleveland, Ohio
, adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
. The 2200000 square feet (204,386.7 m²) building includes over 1000000 square feet (92,903 m²) total square feet of exhibition and conference space, making it one of the largest meeting, convention, and exhibition centers in the United States. The diverse show schedule includes public events featuring one of the country's largest boat show
s, Trade Show 200 events, banquets and meetings attracting over 2 million visitors each year.
Originally located within Brook Park, Ohio
, the building and 90 acres (36.4 ha) of neighboring land became part of Cleveland in a 2001 land swap that sent most of the NASA Glenn Research Center
to Brook Park.
-operated factory
and was used to build bomber
s during World War II
as the Cleveland Bomber Plant. For a time, it built the wing assembly for the B-29, then the experimental XP-75.
It later served for many years as a tank
factory. The M41 Walker Bulldog
, M56 Scorpion
, M114, the MOG Howitzer, and the M551 Sheridan
were built at the facility.
Former employees of the tank plant reported that there were at least two, maybe three basement levels, of course now they are classified. One basement had a large pool in it for testing water-tightness of production tanks. Current security personnel agree there is more than the one basement level to the building, but will not confirm exactly how many.
It was vacant from 1970 to 1977, when it was purchased by Park Corp. with the intention of converting it into an exhibition hall. It re-opened in 1985 as the I-X Center. The Park Corp. sold the building to the City of Cleveland in 2001, but continues to lease and operate it.
In 1990, the I-X Center was used as a temporary high school for North Olmsted High School
. On September 16, 1990, two students burned down the front of the high school, causing significant damage.
The building's 125 feet (38.1 m) high ferris wheel
premiered at the 1992 Greater Cleveland Auto Show. At the time it was the world's highest indoor ferris wheel. Today it is a centerpiece of the annual IX Indoor Amusement Park.
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
located in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
. The 2200000 square feet (204,386.7 m²) building includes over 1000000 square feet (92,903 m²) total square feet of exhibition and conference space, making it one of the largest meeting, convention, and exhibition centers in the United States. The diverse show schedule includes public events featuring one of the country's largest boat show
Boat show
A boat show is a public exhibition or trade fair of current boat models, debuts, concept vessels, or out-of-production classics. Due to the nature of the industry building around yachting and nautical tourism, a boat show may be a social event...
s, Trade Show 200 events, banquets and meetings attracting over 2 million visitors each year.
Originally located within Brook Park, Ohio
Brook Park, Ohio
-External links:*...
, the building and 90 acres (36.4 ha) of neighboring land became part of Cleveland in a 2001 land swap that sent most of the NASA Glenn Research Center
Glenn Research Center
NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field is a NASA center, located within the cities of Brook Park, Cleveland and Fairview Park, Ohio between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the Cleveland Metroparks's Rocky River Reservation, and has other subsidiary facilities in Ohio...
to Brook Park.
History
It was built in 1942 as a General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
-operated factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
and was used to build bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as the Cleveland Bomber Plant. For a time, it built the wing assembly for the B-29, then the experimental XP-75.
It later served for many years as a tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
factory. The M41 Walker Bulldog
M41 Walker Bulldog
The M41 Walker Bulldog was a U.S. light tank developed to replace the M24 Chaffee. It was named for General Walton Walker who died in a jeep accident in Korea...
, M56 Scorpion
M56 Scorpion
The M56 Scorpion was an unarmored American self-propelled anti-tank gun, which featured a 90mm M54 gun with a simple blast shield, and unprotected crew compartment...
, M114, the MOG Howitzer, and the M551 Sheridan
M551 Sheridan
The M551 Sheridan was a light tank developed by the United States and named after Civil War General Philip Sheridan. It was designed to be landed by parachute and to swim across rivers. It was armed with the technically advanced but troublesome M81/M81E1 152mm gun/launcher which fired conventional...
were built at the facility.
Former employees of the tank plant reported that there were at least two, maybe three basement levels, of course now they are classified. One basement had a large pool in it for testing water-tightness of production tanks. Current security personnel agree there is more than the one basement level to the building, but will not confirm exactly how many.
It was vacant from 1970 to 1977, when it was purchased by Park Corp. with the intention of converting it into an exhibition hall. It re-opened in 1985 as the I-X Center. The Park Corp. sold the building to the City of Cleveland in 2001, but continues to lease and operate it.
In 1990, the I-X Center was used as a temporary high school for North Olmsted High School
North Olmsted High School
North Olmsted High School is a public high school located in the Cleveland suburb of North Olmsted, Ohio. It is the only high school administered by North Olmsted City Schools.-Awards and report card:...
. On September 16, 1990, two students burned down the front of the high school, causing significant damage.
The building's 125 feet (38.1 m) high ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
premiered at the 1992 Greater Cleveland Auto Show. At the time it was the world's highest indoor ferris wheel. Today it is a centerpiece of the annual IX Indoor Amusement Park.