Cars by Twilight

Get up close and personal with the cars of the Crawford Collection part of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, before they move into storage during History Center renovations!

Peek under the hoods and sit on the classic upholstery for a photo. Get a preview of the renovation plans and meet the new WRHS Curator of Transportation History.

The Cars by Twilight is part of the long-awaited release of $2.8 million in State of Ohio funds will create a new look and better environment for visitor services and collection care at the Western Reserve Historical Society’s University Circle headquarters, known as the History Center.  This renovation project adds yet one more item to the string of recent positive developments at the 144-year old regional historical society.

The bulk of the renovations planned between October 2011 and August 2012 will be made to the first floor of the facility that houses the WRHS Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.  Both lobbies on the first floor, off East Boulevard and the WRHS parking lot off Magnolia Drive, will also be renovated.  Visitors will arrive to a more open, bright and welcoming space with new layout, flooring, lighting, ADA accessible bathrooms, gift shop and climate control systems.  Two grand staircases will be added to create a stronger connection to the museum’s lower level.

A new elevator will also connect the two floors to the adjacent historic Bingham-Hanna House and adjoining exhibit galleries.  Equally important will be the work to ensure the integrity of the museum and protection of the collections, including a new roof, ceilings, electrical, insulation and sprinkler system.

“It’s almost overwhelming that so many favorable things are happening at once,” said WRHS President & CEO Dr. Gainor B. Davis, referring to the construction project as well as two new endowments, a new family education center, the re-opening of the historic Hay House for tours and Sunday openings for the first time in several years.  All of this comes with balanced budgets and being nearly debt-free.

“Over the past four years, the Society, both Board and staff, focused on a vision to turn things around and we directly met the institution’s challenges.  As change occurs, good things start happening.”
The renovations come as WRHS is completing a new strategic plan to transform the nonprofit into a vibrant, stable community-focused institution offering experiences onsite, offsite and online.   “The onsite portion of our plan will certainly get a boost with the new look of our History Center in University Circle,” Davis said.  Cleveland-based firm Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects, Inc. is designing the project.  Regency Construction Services, Inc., also Cleveland-based, is serving as owner’s representative.

The 94 cars and 6 airplanes currently on display will be moved into safe storage beginning in mid-September.

A public party to celebrate the upcoming renovations and see the cars and planes safely on their way to temporary storage is planned at the WRHS History Center for Fri. Sept. 2nd.  “We’ll toast the cars and planes then,” Davis said, “and then again when they return to the renovated History Center in the summer of 2012.” Welcoming the cars will be an exhibit hall that will provide the proper environment for their care and maintenance, and proper gallery lighting, layout and amenities that will enhance the visitor experience.

It's all presented by Motorcars Honda & Toyota in Cleveland Heights, Oh.  Friday, September 2, 2011 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm; at the WRHS History Center in University Circle.  $5 admission, with a cash bar and music.

Information: www.wrhs.org or call 216-721-5722

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