Western Reserve Historical Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) was founded in 1867, making it the oldest cultural institution in Northeast Ohio. Located in University Circle, the renowned arts and culture district of Cleveland, the Society’s headquarters on East Boulevard houses and curates an extraordinary group of distinguished collections. The mission of the Western Reserve Historical Society is to collect, preserve and present the history of all the people of the Western Reserve. WRHS is located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
The Society’s headquarters houses an extraordinary group of distinguished collections including: The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, nearly 200 vintage and antique automobiles and airplanes; The Halle Costume Wing, which houses over 30,000 garments from the late 1700s to the present; The Hay-McKinney Mansion, a 1911 masterpiece where visitors can tour luxurious turn-of-the-century parlors and living areas; and The Library where over 20 million archives and manuscripts are available for anyone interested in their own genealogical research, or any aspect of the Northeast Ohio history.
The society also owns and operates the Hale Farm & Village in Bath, Ohio, James A. Garfield National Historic Site Lawnfield, the home of President and Mrs. James A. Garfield in Mentor, Ohio, and Shandy Hall in Unionville, Ohio. Built in 1815, Shandy Hall is recognized as one of the best examples of early life and architecture found in the Western Reserve. The society also operates Loghurst, built in 1805 in Canfield, Ohio which is thought to be the oldest residence in the Western Reserve.
WRHS is a private, membership-based society that also receives funding through its investments, grants, and gifts.
