A Tale of Two Toledos: 95 Years of Friendship

Thanks to The Association of Two Toledos, which obtained materials on loan from the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, the Toledo Library is excited to share an exhibit celebrating the longstanding connection between Toledo, Ohio, and Toledo, Spain.

Although we’re celebrating the 95th anniversary of this special relationship this year, Toledo, Ohio’s connection to its Spanish namesake goes back much further. In fact, the roots of that connection can be traced to the founding of our city.

In 1833, the founders of Toledo, Ohio, merged the communities of Port Lawrence and Vistula and chose the name Toledo in honor of the historic Spanish city. Just two years later, The Toledo Blade, our city’s longest continuously published newspaper, was also named with Toledo, Spain, in mind, paying tribute to the ancient city’s legendary swordsmiths.

The exhibit tables found in the Fact and Fiction department at Main Library are organized to as follows:

• Table 1: A collection of historical guidebooks and images of Toledo, Spain.
• Table 2: Ephemera from the first delegation from Toledo, Ohio to Toledo, Spain in 1934 including Toledanos, a Spanish newspaper, and photos, programs and images from the ship the delegates traveled in.
• Tables 3 and 4: Gifts from Toledo, Spain including ceramic tiles and a medallion, prints and photographs of artwork and a mural, and a replica of a famous sword loaned to the exhibit by a private donor.
• Additionally, a small display is available of Toledo Lucas County Public Library holdings that feature the 1909 King Wamba Festival in Local History and Genealogy. The exhibit will be available now through October 2, 2026.