Western Reserve Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESERVES AND USES ITS COLLECTIONS, HISTORIC SITES, AND MUSEUMS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE BY EXPLORING THE TANGIBLE HISTORY OF NORTHEAST OHIO.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $7.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 158
- Highest pay
- $242,900, president &
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $4.7 million spent. CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER THE CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER HOUSES THE HISTORY MUSEUM, RESEARCH LIBRARY/ARCHIVES & GENEALOGICAL CENTER, CRAWFORD AUTO AVIATION MUSEUM, KIDZIBITS FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER, AND THE INSTITUTION'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. THE CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER INCLUDES TWO EARLY 20TH CENTURY MANSIONS, THE HAY MCKINNEY AND BINGHAM-HANNA MANSIONS, ALONG WITH GALLERIES THAT CONNECT THE HISTORIC MANSIONS. THE COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES ARE AMONG THE MOST EXTENSIVE OF ANY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES, A REFLECTION OF OVER 150 YEARS OF COLLECTING. WRHS WAS FOUNDED IN 1867 TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT WESTERN RESERVE, THE NAME FOR THE LAND ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE CONNECTICUT TERRITORY WHICH IS NOW NORTHEAST OHIO. TODAY, WRHS COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF NORTHEAST OHIO TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, INSPIRING THEM TO DISCOVER THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY EXPLORING THE PAST AND IMAGINING THE FUTURE. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS FOR ALL AGES AND INTERESTS. THE WRHS COLLECTIONS ARE VAST AND VARIED. THE LIBRARY/ARCHIVES HOLD MILLIONS OF ITEMS INCLUDING BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND DOCUMENTS, MAKING IT A PREMIER RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SCHOLARS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND GENEALOGISTS. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLECTION INCLUDE CIVIL WAR MATERIALS, VARIOUS ETHNIC AND COMMUNITY COLLECTIONS SUCH AS THOSE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, JEWISH, ITALIAN, AND IRISH HISTORIES OF THE REGION, AND EXTENSIVE BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, PHILANTHROPIC, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND POLITICAL RECORDS. THE WRHS HISTORIC COSTUME AND TEXTILE COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES. THE INSTITUTION'S COLLECTIONS OF ITEMS RELATED TO THE SHAKER COMMUNITIES IS, IN FACT, THE LARGEST IN THE U.S. THE DECORATIVE ARTS COLLECTION INCLUDES ABOUT 3,500 ARTIFACTS OWNED BY EARLY RESIDENTS OF THE WESTERN RESERVE, AND APPROXIMATELY 800 PAINTINGS REFLECTING THE HISTORY OF THE REGION. THE CRAWFORD AUTO AVIATION MUSEUM CONTAINS MORE THAN 157 CARS, 10 AIRPLANES, AND NUMEROUS MOTORCYCLES, BICYCLES, AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE-RELATED ITEMS. ALONG WITH THE LIBRARY'S AUTOMOTIVE MARQUE FILES, THE CRAWFORD COLLECTION TELLS THE STORY OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY IN NORTHEAST OHIO. IN NOVEMBER, 2014, THE ICONIC EUCLID BEACH PARK GRAND CAROUSEL OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AFTER RESTORATION, HOUSED IN A SPECTACULAR GLASS PAVILION. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN WRHS, THE CLEVELAND EBPN CAROUSEL SOCIETY, AND EUCLID BEACH PARK NOW. THE CLEVELAND STARTS HERE EXHIBIT OPENED IN 2017 THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THE LAST 200 YEARS OF CLEVELAND AND WESTERN RESERVE HISTORY. CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER THE CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER HOUSES THE HISTORY MUSEUM, RESEARCH LIBRARY/ARCHIVES & GENEALOGICAL CENTER, CRAWFORD AUTO AVIATION MUSEUM, KIDZIBITS FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER, AND THE INSTITUTION'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. THE CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER INCLUDES TWO EARLY 20TH CENTURY MANSIONS, THE HAY MCKINNEY AND BINGHAM-HANNA MANSIONS, ALONG WITH GALLERIES THAT CONNECT THE HISTORIC MANSIONS. THE COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES ARE AMONG THE MOST EXTENSIVE OF ANY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES, A REFLECTION OF OVER 150 YEARS OF COLLECTING. WRHS WAS FOUNDED IN 1867 TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT WESTERN RESERVE, THE NAME FOR THE LAND ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE CONNECTICUT TERRITORY WHICH IS NOW NORTHEAST OHIO. TODAY, WRHS COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF NORTHEAST OHIO TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, INSPIRING THEM TO DISCOVER THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY EXPLORING THE PAST AND IMAGINING THE FUTURE. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS FOR ALL AGES AND INTERESTS. THE WRHS COLLECTIONS ARE VAST AND VARIED. THE LIBRARY/ARCHIVES HOLD MILLIONS OF ITEMS INCLUDING BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND DOCUMENTS, MAKING IT A PREMIER RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SCHOLARS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND GENEALOGISTS. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLECTION INCLUDE CIVIL WAR MATERIALS, VARIOUS ETHNIC AND COMMUNITY COLLECTIONS SUCH AS THOSE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, JEWISH, ITALIAN, AND IRISH HISTORIES OF THE REGION, AND EXTENSIVE BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, PHILANTHROPIC, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND POLITICAL RECORDS. THE WRHS HISTORIC COSTUME AND TEXTILE COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES. THE INSTITUTION'S COLLECTIONS OF ITEMS RELATED TO THE SHAKER COMMUNITIES IS, IN FACT, THE LARGEST IN THE U.S. THE DECORATIVE ARTS COLLECTION INCLUDES ABOUT 3,500 ARTIFACTS OWNED BY EARLY RESIDENTS OF THE WESTERN RESERVE, AND APPROXIMATELY 800 PAINTINGS REFLECTING THE HISTORY OF THE REGION. THE CRAWFORD AUTO AVIATION MUSEUM CONTAINS MORE THAN 157 CARS, 10 AIRPLANES, AND NUMEROUS MOTORCYCLES, BICYCLES, AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE-RELATED ITEMS. ALONG WITH THE LIBRARY'S AUTOMOTIVE MARQUE FILES, THE CRAWFORD COLLECTION TELLS THE STORY OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY IN NORTHEAST OHIO. IN NOVEMBER, 2014, THE ICONIC EUCLID BEACH PARK GRAND CAROUSEL OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AFTER RESTORATION, HOUSED IN A SPECTACULAR GLASS PAVILION. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN WRHS, THE CLEVELAND EBPN CAROUSEL SOCIETY, AND EUCLID BEACH PARK NOW. THE CLEVELAND STARTS HERE EXHIBIT OPENED IN 2017 THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THE LAST 200 YEARS OF CLEVELAND AND WESTERN RESERVE HISTORY.
- $1.4 million spent. HALE FARM & VILLAGE HALE FARM & VILLAGE, IN SCENIC CUYAHOGA VALLEY SOUTH OF CLEVELAND, IS AN OUTDOOR LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM OF THE WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. NINETEENTH CENTURY LIFE IS PRESENTED AT HALE TO ENGAGE, STIMULATE, AND CHALLENGE VISITORS TO SUSPEND THEIR DISBELIEF, STEP BACK IN TIME, AND USE THE LESSONS OF THE PAST TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. THE 90-ACRE SITE IS COMPRISED OF 32 HISTORIC, RESTORED 19TH CENTURY STRUCTURES; A MODERN VISITOR'S CENTER WITH GIFT SHOP AND CAF; SEVERAL GARDENS, HERITAGE LIVESTOCK BREEDS; AND THE EARLY AMERICAN CRAFT AND TRADE PROGRAM FEATURING GLASSBLOWING, BLACKSMITHING, POTTERY, CANDLE, BROOM AND BASKET MAKING; AND HEARTH AND WOODSTOVE COOKING. FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE HALE FAMILY USED THE LAND AND RESOURCES TO CARVE OUT A NICHE FOR THEMSELVES IN THE CUYAHOGA VALLEY. THE MUSEUM BUILDS ITS PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS WITH REVERENCE FOR THE HALES' ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT COMBINED WITH A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE PAST. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS THROUGH ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM CALENDAR FOLLOWS THE SEASONAL CYCLE OF RURAL LIFE IN NORTHEAST OHIO. ANNUAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE SUMMER CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT WHICH DRAWS HUNDREDS OF CIVIL WAR REENACTORS AND THOUSANDS OF VISITORS. CIVIL WAR-ERA HISTORY AND INTERPRETATION IS A HALLMARK OF HALE PROGRAMMING FEATURED IN ANNUAL HOLIDAY LANTERN TOURS OF THE VILLAGE AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATION PROGRAM. HARVEST FESTIVAL IS ANOTHER ANNUAL EVENT DRAWING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS PARTICIPATING IN HARVEST SEASON ACTIVITIES. HALE INCREASINGLY CONSIDERS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY IN ITS PROGRAMS. STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS TEACH THE PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS IN EVERYDAY LIFE BY EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NORTHEAST OHIO AND CONSIDERING WISE USE OF LIMITED RESOURCES. THE PHRASE "COME HOME TO HALE" APTLY DESCRIBES THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT HALE FARM & VILLAGE WHERE ONE MAY CONNECT WITH THE PAST AND FIND ITS RELEVANCE FOR THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. HALE FARM & VILLAGE HALE FARM & VILLAGE, IN SCENIC CUYAHOGA VALLEY SOUTH OF CLEVELAND, IS AN OUTDOOR LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM OF THE WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. NINETEENTH CENTURY LIFE IS PRESENTED AT HALE TO ENGAGE, STIMULATE, AND CHALLENGE VISITORS TO SUSPEND THEIR DISBELIEF, STEP BACK IN TIME, AND USE THE LESSONS OF THE PAST TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. THE 90-ACRE SITE IS COMPRISED OF 32 HISTORIC, RESTORED 19TH CENTURY STRUCTURES; A MODERN VISITOR'S CENTER WITH GIFT SHOP AND CAF; SEVERAL GARDENS, HERITAGE LIVESTOCK BREEDS; AND THE EARLY AMERICAN CRAFT AND TRADE PROGRAM FEATURING GLASSBLOWING, BLACKSMITHING, POTTERY, CANDLE, BROOM AND BASKET MAKING; AND HEARTH AND WOODSTOVE COOKING. FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE HALE FAMILY USED THE LAND AND RESOURCES TO CARVE OUT A NICHE FOR THEMSELVES IN THE CUYAHOGA VALLEY. THE MUSEUM BUILDS ITS PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS WITH REVERENCE FOR THE HALES' ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT COMBINED WITH A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE PAST. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS THROUGH ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM CALENDAR FOLLOWS THE SEASONAL CYCLE OF RURAL LIFE IN NORTHEAST OHIO. ANNUAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE SUMMER CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT WHICH DRAWS HUNDREDS OF CIVIL WAR REENACTORS AND THOUSANDS OF VISITORS. CIVIL WAR-ERA HISTORY AND INTERPRETATION IS A HALLMARK OF HALE PROGRAMMING FEATURED IN ANNUAL HOLIDAY LANTERN TOURS OF THE VILLAGE AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATION PROGRAM. HARVEST FESTIVAL IS ANOTHER ANNUAL EVENT DRAWING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS PARTICIPATING IN HARVEST SEASON ACTIVITIES. HALE INCREASINGLY CONSIDERS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY IN ITS PROGRAMS. STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS TEACH THE PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS IN EVERYDAY LIFE BY EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NORTHEAST OHIO AND CONSIDERING WISE USE OF LIMITED RESOURCES. THE PHRASE "COME HOME TO HALE" APTLY DESCRIBES THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT HALE FARM & VILLAGE WHERE ONE MAY CONNECT WITH THE PAST AND FIND ITS RELEVANCE FOR THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.
- $123,740 spent. OTHER PROPERTIES SHANDY HALL IS AN 1815 HOME ON 115 ACRES OF LAND IN ASHTABULA COUNTY, AND CONSISTS OF A MAIN HOUSE AND SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS. THE HOME WAS OCCUPIED BY SEVEN GENERATIONS OF THE SAME FAMILY AND CONTAINS ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS. THE SITE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR TOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. LOGHURST, IN MAHONING COUNTY, SITS ON 7.5 ACRES AND INCLUDES A CIRCA 1805 LOG HOUSE, BELIEVED TO BE THE OLDEST SUCH STRUCTURE IN NORTHEAST OHIO. WRHS ENJOYS A CO-STEWARDSHIP ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CANFIELD HERITAGE FOUNDATION TO OPERATE THE SITE ON A SEASONAL BASIS. HANDYSIDE HOUSE IS A VICTORIAN-STYLE CENTURY HOME LOCATED IN BEDFORD, OHIO. THE PROPERTY IS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1940.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.