Hungarian Heritage Society Museum
and visit from Laszlo Mandoki Galleria on 9th St. in Cleveland
February 5, 2025
During the late 1800s, many Hungarians immigrated to and established themselves in Cleveland, Ohio. At one time there were more Hungarians living in Cleveland than anywhere in the world outside of Budapest Hungary.
The Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society's mission is to preserve Hungarian culture and the history of Hungarians in Northeast Ohio, so that present and future generations can draw upon its collection for education, inspiration and enrichment. To carry out its mission, the Society sponsors educational and research activities, and operates a museum and library as a repository and exhibition center for Hungarian historical, literary and artistic items. It is in the Galleria in downtown Cleveland.
Outside front of the Hungarian Museum in Cleveland
Board member Eva Szabo started the tour of the impressive museum that is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It began with a walk under a large gate representing those in Hungary.
The right side includes temporary exhibits that rotate and are updated along with kiosks that let people press touch screens to view what they want.
The left side is the permanent collection and Eva showed us artifacts, paintings etc. including a replica of the Crown of Hungary from the year 1000 and a tribute section dedicated to Colonel Michael Kovats who, as a lover of freedom, came to help in the American Revolutionary War and is considered the Father of the Cavalry.
There is an exhibit to the world's first rock star, Franz Liszt, who is honored each year in the Hungarian Cultural Garden.
Franz Liszt exhibit
There is an exhibit about Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza which is only about 500' from the Museum and features a large statue of the 1956 Hungarian Freedom Fighter holding the flag with the center torn out.
As you will see in the video tour below from board member Eva Szabo, there are exhibits about the Hungarian churches and neighborhoods in Cleveland, traditional costumes such as for the Harvest Festival, a cimbalom from the 1800's and more.
Traditional Hungarian costumes
Hungarian cimbalom from the 1800's
The Museum also has an extensive Hungarian library and facilities for the many lectures and programs that the Museum puts on.
Watch the video of the tour of the Hungarian Heritage Society Museum with Eva Szabo and then we were joined by Janos Szigeti, President of the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society, and special guest László "Leslie" Mándoki.
Note: Eva did not know I was going to ask her for the video tour so she did not have time to prepare. She told me of a few errors (the gate is a representation of gates by the Hungarian people of Erdely, not Hungary, and Stephen was not the first king of France. He was the first king of Hungary. But she did a great job with this sprung on her with no notice. Köszönjük szépen! Watch.
We were fortunate to interview the special guest visitor.
László "Leslie" Mándoki
László "Leslie" Mándoki was born in Budapest Hungary at a time when the music world was about to explode. He listened to early rock and roll via Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America and started learning instruments and playing.
He was arrested many times by the communist regime and had to flee Hungary and eventually make it to the USA.
In 1992, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, Cream's Jack Bruce, and Return to Forever's Al Di Meola became founding members of Leslie Mandoki's band project Mandoki Soulmates, and for over 25 years since, Leslie Mandoki has continued to unite a who's who of the icons of Anglo-American and European rock and jazz-rock in the Mandoki Soulmates band. Other guest musicians on the Soulmates albums included Chaka Khan, Robin Gibb, Deep Purple's Jon Lord, Steve Lukather, Michael and Randy Brecker, Peter Frampton and the Animals Eric Burdon. He also worked as a producer for many German and international acts, including Phil Collins, Engelbert and Lionel Richie.
He brought his story of music and freedom to Cleveland for an event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland which he called a dream come true.
He posed in front of the large guitar from Guitarmania which features Hungarian history and was then joined by Janos Szigeti, Eva Szabo and other Museum volunteers.
Leslie Mandoki and Hungarian Guitarmania guitar
Leslie Mandoki and Museum volunteers with Hungarian Guitarmania guitar
Leslie Mándoki toured the Hungarian Museum with Janos Szigeti, Eva Szabo and other Museum volunteers and then visited Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza with Janos Szigeti.
Leslie Mandoki in Hungarian Museum with volunteers
As a true lover of Hungary and Hungarian culture he was suitably impressed with the Museum and people and aspects of the Hungarian community of Cleveland.
In the interview he gave a parting message to the Hungarian diaspora about the importance of teaching their children Hungarian. Watch the video.
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