Guardians of Traffic - New Additions

Vintage-style Art Deco poster design - A tribute to Cleveland's Guardians.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve expanded my Cleveland Guardians of Traffic collection with more then 50 new artworks inspired by one of Cleveland’s most iconic architectural landmarks — the massive Art Deco sculptures lining the Hope Memorial Bridge. This latest series includes dramatic photography, black white architectural studies, watercolor interpretations, poster-style designs, and detailed drawings inspired by imaginative transportation-themed variations celebrating Cleveland’s industrial and transportation history.

Artistic interpretations through photography and watercolor design.

The Guardians have fascinated me for years because they symbolize far more than traffic or transportation. They represent strength, progress, craftsmanship, and the spirit of a city built on steel, manufacturing, railroads, shipping, and innovation. Every angle, texture, and carved detail tells part of Cleveland’s story. Some of the newest pieces focus on dramatic close-up side profiles against swirling skies, while others creatively pair the Guardians with vintage automobiles, wagons, trucks, and transportation imagery inspired by the bridge’s original symbolism.

What makes these sculptures especially compelling is how well they adapt across different artistic styles. Some images lean into timeless black white architectural photography, while others embrace softer watercolor textures or bold graphic poster aesthetics. The collection now offers a much broader range of visual styles for Cleveland enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and collectors of urban Americana.

The Guardians of Traffic remain among the most recognizable symbols in Cleveland, Ohio, and these new works continue my ongoing effort to celebrate the city’s history, architecture, and civic identity through photography and design.

Explore the complete Guardians of Traffic collection and more Cleveland artwork at DaleKincaid.com.

 Cleveland Poster Artwork

A vintage-inspired Cleveland poster celebrating the city’s lakefront skyline.

There’s something timeless about a classic travel poster. Long before social media and digital advertising, bold illustrated posters invited travelers to experience the energy, architecture, and personality of great American cities. That same inspiration became the foundation for my newest collection of Cleveland poster artwork.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been creating a growing series of Cleveland-inspired poster designs featuring many of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and themes. The collection blends vintage travel aesthetics, Art Deco influences, documentary-style layouts, and modern graphic illustration to celebrate Cleveland’s identity as America’s North Coast.

The series includes posters featuring the iconic Terminal Tower, the Guardians of Traffic on the Hope Memorial Bridge, West Side Market, Cleveland skyline views, stylized city maps, and even the historic arrival and commissioning of the USS Cleveland (LCS-31). Some pieces lean heavily into retro travel-poster styling, while others use minimalist layouts, monochrome treatments, richly detailed architectural illustrations, or poetry-style typographic compositions that combine decorative borders, vintage-inspired lettering, and literary design elements to celebrate the voice and spirit of Cleveland. Together, they create a visual tribute to the city’s industrial heritage, waterfront culture, architecture, and civic pride.

Vintage-inspired designs and a poetic tribute to Cleveland’s North Coast pride.

One of the things I enjoy most about this collection is how differently Cleveland can be interpreted from one design to the next. A single landmark can feel nostalgic, modern, patriotic, cinematic, or purely graphic depending on the style and composition. The posters are meant to feel collectible — the kind of artwork you might discover in an old railway station, visitor bureau, or historic exhibition hall.

As someone who has spent years photographing and documenting Cleveland, this project has become a creative way to combine photography, illustration, storytelling, and local history into a single body of work — and a growing collection inspired by Cleveland’s skyline, neighborhoods, landmarks, waterfront, and industrial character. Each piece approaches the city from a slightly different perspective — some leaning into vintage travel poster aesthetics, others inspired by Art Deco design, civic pride, nostalgia, or modern graphic illustration. Together, the collection reflects the energy, resilience, and personality that continue to define Cleveland and the North Coast. Whether you’re a lifelong Clevelander, an Ohio native, a collector of travel posters, or simply someone who appreciates vintage-inspired artwork, these posters were created to celebrate the city in a timeless and visually striking way.

Explore the Cleveland Poster Collection and more Cleveland artwork at DaleKincaid.com

 USS Cleveland LCS 31 Arrives in Cleveland Harbor

Cleveland welcomes the USS Cleveland (LCS 31) home to the North Coast.

On the morning of May 9, 2026, I joined dozens of photographers gathered at Wendy Park near the Coast Guard station to witness the arrival of the USS Cleveland (LCS 31) as it made its way into Cleveland Harbor ahead of its official commissioning ceremony. Just in the area where I was photographing from, there were easily more than 50 photographers, many of them friends, all waiting to capture a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Cleveland and for naval history. Residents lined the shoreline from Vermilion to Cleveland while private boats formed a welcoming flotilla on Lake Erie as the vessel made its way toward the city.

As the massive warship approached the Cleveland Harbor Lighthouse and passed along the Lake Erie shoreline, I could not help feeling both excited and blessed to witness and photograph such a historic event. I hoped to capture images that, to some, might make a difference — photographs that not only document history, but also become meaningful commemorative artwork Clevelanders, veterans and naval enthusiasts would treasure for years to come. I also knew I had to create a commemorative poster honoring the occasion.

The USS Cleveland is the fourth United States Navy vessel to carry the city’s name and will officially enter active service during its commissioning ceremony on May 16 at North Coast Yard in Cleveland. The event marks the first time in our nation’s 250-year history that a United States Navy warship will be commissioned in the State of Ohio. A commissioning ceremony is one of the Navy’s most respected traditions, formally placing a vessel into active duty and recognizing the readiness of both the ship and its crew.

The USS Cleveland also represents the final Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship to be commissioned for the United States Navy. Built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, the ship was designed for high-speed coastal warfare operations and is capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots while supporting missions involving surface warfare, anti-submarine defense and mine countermeasures. Bearing the official call sign "NCLE," the USS Cleveland also reflects Northeast Ohio’s industrial and maritime heritage through the use of regional manufacturing support, Cleveland-produced steel incorporated during construction, and protective marine coatings supplied by Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams.

One of the most fascinating details surrounding the ship is its official seal and crest featuring the motto “FORGE A LEGACY.” The emblem incorporates a silhouette of the Cleveland skyline, four stars representing the four Navy vessels named for Cleveland, and symbolic references to Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland Public Square, the city’s industrial strength, and Cleveland’s world-renowned hospitals, museums and universities. The crest’s sixteen sun rays honor the USS Cleveland as the sixteenth Freedom-class littoral combat ship. Even more meaningful is the long-term vision behind the motto itself — that after 20 to 25 years of active service, the ship could someday return to Cleveland as a memorial and museum honoring its service and legacy.

All of these photographs, along with the commemorative poster artwork, are now available on my website. Some will also become part of my America 250 Collection honoring important moments, places and symbols connected to our nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial celebration.

Explore the collection at DaleKincaid.com - USS Cleveland