When it opened in 1893 Grays Armory was the largest auditorium in Cleveland. It was a space that housed the very first Auto Show in Cleveland in 1903 and hosted the Cleveland Orchestra's first concert 15 years later. They were not summer events, in fact the Armory has held very few July or August events because it never had air conditioning, until now.
"We are going through some of the biggest renovations we've had in years probably since the building was built," said Kristin Roediger Grays Armory's Executive Director.
The air conditioning made possible by the financial commitment of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party to take over the venue for a week of festivities during the convention.
"This is going to be party central, Republican Party Central," said County GOP Chairman Rob Frost. "We've got a convention watch session every night with a post session concert going on."
The headliners include Shaker Heights native Jim Brickman, American Idol winner Candice Glover and the Marshall Tucker Band.
"And then Thursday's pretty big surprise with a country act coming in to really be our grand finale," said Frost. Ticket prices and information are available at CLE.GOP.
The air conditioning makes it possible for the Armory now to hold other summer events but it also applies a degree of protection to the Museum's contents.
"We have artifacts that are dated pre civil war we have money from Confederate money from the Civil War, we have a lot of textiles. a lot of pictures, alot of paper that to finally have humidity and climate control will do a lot, said Roediger."
In addition two handicap ramps are being installed and next year an elevator. "To finally be able to help some of the people get up to where most of our artifacts are housed on the second floor. Before we always had to physically carry people up or they just wouldn't be able to see anything," she said.
