Baker Motor Vehicle Company Building, historic commercial building in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States
The Baker Motor Vehicle Company Building is a 1910 commercial structure in Cleveland that once served as a showroom and service center for electric cars. The building features corner towers and red tile roof combining industrial design with mission-inspired architecture, and large display windows made the vehicles visible from the street.
The building was constructed in 1910 for Baker Electric Motor Car Company, a leading early electric automobile manufacturer producing vehicles with impressive range. After merging with Rauch and Lang in 1916, operations shifted and the building changed hands multiple times, serving various car brands and later industrial uses until undergoing major restoration from 2006 to 2008.
The building reflects Cleveland's role as a center for electric car innovation in the early 1900s. The large display windows and open interior design show how automobiles were presented as luxury items meant to be admired by passersby.
The building sits on Euclid Avenue and is easily recognizable from the street by its distinctive corner towers and mission-style architecture. Visitors can see the original display windows today and find a public electric vehicle charging station that ties back to the building's original purpose.
The building served not only as a showroom but also offered overnight accommodations for chauffeurs while their electric cars recharged. This reflects how different electric cars were at the time, as the slow charging process required an overnight service that was fundamentally different from the faster refueling culture that would follow.
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