Originally built in the early 1890s, the Powerhouse in Cleveland’s Flats is a registered National Historic Landmark. This red brick structure anchors the Nautica Entertainment Complex, just below the heart of the city, on the western bank of the winding Cuyahoga River.

Nautica first opened in 1987 as a multi-venue entertainment complex, sandwiched between two of the river’s more dramatic jackknife bridges. It encompasses a stretch of the Cuyahoga River boardwalk, dockage for the Nautica Queen river- and lake-cruise vessel (as well as river water taxis), the Nautica Pavilion performance amphitheater, the Sugar Warehouse, the Brewer-Chilcote Building, parking areas, and the restored Powerhouse itself. Within the Powerhouse are such venues as Windows on the River: a top-floor party room favored for social and business events, Howl at the Moon Saloon, Rock Bottom Brewery, and a comedy club, as well as dining and retail facilities.

The former powerhouse was one of the city’s original utility buildings, used to supply energy to Cleveland’s network of streetcars. It lay dormant from the latter part of the 1920s until its acquisition in the 1980s by Jacobs Investments of Cleveland. It was then restored and refurbished into the current entertainment complex. It is notable for its utilitarian design, historic styling, high arched windows, tall stacks and aged red brick.

It is said that within a few miles of the Powerhouse are more different bridge structures of different types than on any equivalently sized geographic region on Earth. A short stroll along the Cuyahoga River offers views of suspension, trestle, truss, scissors, swing and high-lift bridges.

In recent years, Jacobs Investments has proposed various additional development concepts at the Nautica complex and the Powerhouse, one of the more recent being a walk-through aquarium. In addition to Nautica, the Powerhouse, and entertainment and gaming facilities in other states, Jacobs Investments has also developed housing at several locations in downtown Cleveland near the Flats.