The Places Superman Calls Home

From an alien planet to a farm in Kansas to a small house in Ohio, Superman has hung his cape in a variety of different places.

One of the great stories of finding a new home in the last 100 years is the story of Superman. A boy who’s original home was destroyed must now make a new home in a foreign land. It’s one of the most memorable immigration tales of a generation and it doesn’t seem to get old as Superman continues to be an iconic character.

The blockbuster Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters this weekend and we thought it was time someone took a look at the places that Superman, Clark Kent and Kal-El called home. Turns out there’s quite a few places the last son of Krypton hung his cape and tights.

The Superman House at 10622 Kimberley Avenue in Glenville, Ohio

You won’t find this home in any of the Superman comics, TV shows or movies. While Clark Kent never lived here, it’s the place where he was born. It’s the home where Jerry Siegel lived and first concocted the idea of an invincible man from another planet with his friend Joel Shuster. Located just outside of Cleveland, OH, the Superman House has not always had iconic status as the origin of the Man of Steel, but thanks to some recent PR campaigns from authors and celebrities it is slowly becoming a recognized landmark. Check out this video from The AV Club as they stopped into the Superman house a little while ago for a quick tour and get some insight into how this ordinary home became a landmark.

Krypton

Krypton is the home planet of Kal-El and during its final moments before destruction his father, Jor-El, placed his son into a spaceship headed for earth so that the planet could have a sole survivor. Over the course of the Superman story line, some authors have taken liberty with Krypton’s existence. Some have written there were multiple survivors, like Supergirl and Krypto the Super Dog, and some have even depicted that it wasn’t destroyed and still exists in some form. One thing that is consistent is that the planet’s topography is featured as being made of abstract icicle structure and it’s red son gives the planet a haunting glow. Come to think of it, leaving for earth was a pretty sweet upgrade for young Kal-El.

The Kent Farm in Smallville, Kansas

Clark Kent’s formative years were spent with Jonathan and Martha Kent on this little farm in Smallville. Days spent bailing hay, plowing fields and outrunning locomotives are some of the memorable moments depicted on this farm throughout Superman lore. The most we’ve seen of the Kent Farm has been in the TV show Smallville which highlighted the high school and college years of Clark Kent. In Superman comics, the Kent Farm has been destroyed and rebuilt, but it still owned by Superman’s earthly mother, Martha Kent. On Smallville, The Kent Farm is located on Hickory Lane in Smallville, Kansas and in case you wanted to reach the Kents, their home phone number is 555-0145. In actuality this beautiful home from the TV show actually resides at 843 248th Street, Langley, BC, Canada. The property is just yards from the US and Canada border.

Apartment 3D at 344 Clinton Street in Metropolis

This is the address of the high rise in Metropolis where mild-mannered reporter, Clark Kent, spent his nights…that is when he wasn’t saving people from peril. The apartment located on the third floor is probably the least visible of all of Superman’s residences throughout his existence. It’s briefly scene in some of the earlier Superman comic books, but was not really featured in most of the Superman movies or TV shows.

The Fortress of Solitude

Did you know that the Fortress of Solitude was originally called a different name? It was first deemed the “Secret Citadel” before later being changed to the Fortress of Solitude. Much like Superman’s home planet of Krypton, this fortress in the North contains the icicle architecture that Kryptonians know and love. A series of crystals contained in the fortress help Superman learn of his family’s past and how to handle the problems of the present. The contents of the fortress vary throughout different versions of Superman lore and has hosted everything from an alien zoo to Superman robots to Superman’s secret diary that is too heavy for anyone to open but himself. But the purpose of the Fortress of Solitude is consistent no matter which Superman comic, movie or TV show you come across. It’s a place of escape and respite for the world’s most famous superhero. Isn’t that what a home should be?

 

Header image courtesy of photographer Wil Stewart under Creative Commons License via StockSnap.io

Husband. Father. Socializer. Mets Lifer. TV Aficionado. Consumer Engager.

David Marine is the Chief Marketing Officer at Coldwell Banker, where he oversees the brand’s marketing efforts and content strategy including acting as managing editor for the Coldwell Banker blog and heading up video production efforts. While CMO by day, David runs a three ring circus at night as he is the father of 4 boys. He also happens to be married to Wonder Woman. True story.

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11 Comments

  1. The Places Superman Called Home | Donna Dagley's Blog
    June 12, 2013

    […] By David Marine […]

    Reply
  2. The Places Superman Called Home | Donna Dagley's Blog
    June 12, 2013

    […] By David Marine […]

    Reply
  3. The Places Superman Called Home | Elouise Margita's Blog
    June 12, 2013

    […] Clark Kent’s formative years were spent with Jonathan and Martha Kent on this little farm in Smallville. Days spent bailing hay, plowing fields and outrunning locomotives are some of the memorable moments depicted on this farm throughout Superman lore. The most we’ve seen of the Kent Farm has been in the TV show Smallville which highlighted the high school and college years of Clark Kent. In Superman comics, the Kent Farm has …read more […]

    Reply
  4. The Places Superman Called Home | Susan Lerner's Real Estate Blog
    June 12, 2013

    […] Krypton is the home planet of Kal-El and during its final moments before destruction his father, Jor-El, placed his son into a spaceship headed for …read more […]

    Reply
  5. SilverAgeFan
    June 13, 2013

    Don’t know what TV shows you watched — but Clark Kent was FREQUENTLY shown at home in his apartment in the iconic 1950s version. And there was a scene in the apartment almost every week on Lois and Clark The New Adventures of Superman.
    I will grant you it was not featured AS often in the comics as on tv. But to say it is “not really featured” simply tells us that you — like the producers the dark twisted morass they are trying to pass off in this new movie — have really no clue.

    Reply
    • David Marine
      June 14, 2013

      Ah yes. Lois & Clark. Completely forgot about that series. I try to block out all recollection of Dean Cain as Superman. Nice use of “morass” though. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      Reply
  6. Real Estate Headlines for the Almost End of June | Susan Lerner's Real Estate Blog
    June 17, 2013

    […] You had the NBA Finals, the US Open, Major League Baseball and maybe you even got to go see the new Superman movie, Man of Steel. Whether you’re a dad or not, let’s start the week off right with your weekly dose of […]

    Reply
    • Brandi
      April 26, 2016

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      Reply
  7. Real Estate Headlines for the Almost End of June | Elouise Margita's Blog
    June 17, 2013

    […] You had the NBA Finals, the US Open, Major League Baseball and maybe you even got to go see the new Superman movie, Man of Steel. Whether you’re a dad or not, let’s start the week off right with your weekly dose of […]

    Reply
  8. John-El
    June 21, 2013

    Also Glenville is actually a neighborhood inside of Cleveland city proper. Erego, he wasn’t “born” in Glenville. He was born in Cleveland. Don’t you people have editors for this stuff?

    Reply
  9. Real Estate Headlines for the Almost End of June | Real Estate Durango
    June 26, 2013

    […] You had the NBA Finals, the US Open, Major League Baseball and maybe you even got to go see the new Superman movie, Man of Steel. Whether you’re a dad or not, let’s start the week off right with your weekly dose of […]

    Reply

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