Cleveland? It Rocks!

No Longer A 'Mistake By The Lake'

(CBS)  Cleveland was built by heavy industry, but nearly choked as a result.

Its river once caught fire, and some referred to Cleveland as: "the mistake by the lake."

Well, put your preconceptions aside. As The Early Show contributor Debbye Turner found out, there's a new attitude, and many are now saying: "Cleveland? You rock!"

What's the biggest reason a tourist comes to Cleveland?

Terry Stewart says, "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, right here on the shores of Lake Erie." He is the museum’s president.

More than 50 years ago, a Cleveland D.J. named Alan Freed invented the term, “rock ‘n’ roll.” Eight years ago, the I.M. Pei-designed museum opened its doors. And while tourists flock there, the question remains.

Why they put the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio?

Tourist Jan Parsons did not know the answer so Turner asked Steward.

He says, "Cleveland was one of the great music cities in America. We were the home of the Ojays, the Raspberries, Eric Carmen, Perry Como got his start in this town by singing in clubs here."

And music legends, like Beverly Lee of The Shirelles, often stop by the Rock Hall to perform. Stewart says, "There's something for everybody, because some folks are attracted by guitars, some by costumes, some by lyrics."

The costumes are flamboyant. “As they should be,” says Stewart. “That's what rock ‘n’ roll's all about." He says the museum has continuing exhibits that change annually. "Right now, we have the first true examination of the history of the band U2, for two decades, probably the strongest most popular band in the world," Stewart says.

The museum is one of several new landmarks on the Cleveland skyline.

The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, the Science Center, even the Cleveland Browns football stadium are examples of city's bright future. But the river waters, like the city itself, had a troubled past.

Cuyahoga River navigator, Wayne Bratton, explains, "This river used to bubble like a cauldron! It was black!"

He has navigated the Cuyahoga River for over half a century. Several times, most memorably in 1969, this river became so polluted, it caught fire.

"Cause the Cuyahoga River, goes smokin' through my dreams... Burn on, big river, burn on," are the words of Randy Newman song.

Bratton says, “When you have a river that burns, it reaches national acclaim. I mean it was the butt of many jokes."

As was Cleveland itself.

Wildlife disappeared from Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. You couldn't fish. You certainly couldn't swim. But beginning in the early ‘70s, Cleveland began the long road back.

And now, the birds are back; so are the fish and the people. And along the waterfront, there are parks and dining with a view! A building that sat vacant for 65 years is now a trendy nightspot.

Bratton says, "Today we have 10 species of fish. There's beaver that live right along in here, and all kinds of waterfowl along here." And that's unusual?

Bratton says, “It wasn't here 20 years ago!"

Jim Pressler runs a group that's helped revitalize downtown, bringing back both residents and tourists. He says, "Twenty years ago, people never would have thought of living in Cleveland."

Pressler notes, "I guess people think, they thought it was just an awful place. And you now, you have to come and visit first, and just experience it here. It's a great place."

Stewart says, "It was lost on me when I moved here, the fact that we have one of the leading museums of art in the world, and certainly in America, we have one of the greatest orchestras in the world and we have three Major League franchises in sports for a relatively small town, so there's, actually, almost too much to do here."

Galye Ellis came all the way from California to visit. "I think it's beautiful, actually," she says.

Parson says it is hard to understand why people used to call this the "mistake by the lake." The tourist exclaims, “I don't see any mistakes!"

Pressler says he thinks Cleveland has outgrown all the jokes. "There will always be a joke or two, but we're thick-skinned," he adds.

Stewart says, “That was a very convenient joke at one point in time and people like to use it because they haven't been here, but let them come. We'll change their minds."