Site Review: Shaker Historical Society
Shakers Historical Museum is a part of a few larger organizations known as the Ohio history connection, Cuyahoga arts, and culture. The Shaker Historical Museum is a certified Blue Star museum according to the “National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense value our collaboration with museums nationwide and applaud their commitment to growing their communities to include military service personnel and their families (Exhibit Gallery). Each summer since 2010, Blue Star Museums have offered free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve (Blue Star Museums). During the cause of the semester, I had the opportunity to explore a historical Ohio site, Shaker Historical Museum. I decided to write my paper on this site selected from the Ohio Historical Society webpage. I choose to discuss this museum due to the fact that I have had the pleasure of visiting Myers Mansion on more than one occasion during private rental events. This site is peacefully located approximately 10-15 minutes from my current home. The space is used for meetings, parties and small family gatherings. The mansion is well maintained and a revered site for the local community. The landscape is simply amazing during the spring and summer months, winters in Cleveland can sometimes be brutal.
The museum holds true to its mission statement which states: “We inspire people to engage in and celebrate the Shaker Heights story and its impact on the region… past, present and future” (Exhibit Gallery). In elaboration to the site’s mission statement this historical museum has carried a substantial impact on the community since 1947, including surrounding areas such as Warrensville Township. The historical site first served as the family home to Louis Myers and his wife in 1910, and is now being used as a museum and much more. In 1969 Frank Myers donated his family’s home to the Shaker Historical Society so that it could become permanently accessible for the community providing historical information, artifacts, and even lectures for the community.
What is very interesting about this specific museum is that every few months they change the main focus of each interactive exhibit based on past, present and future historical topics that individuals can learn and grow from. This facility often provides historical lectures or live speakers on a variety of subjects. For example, from February 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020, The African American Vote Exclusion & Inclusion is on exhibit. This exhibit goes into detail about how much of an influence and impact African American change in the city of Shaker Heights for example the exhibit touches on Winston Richie who was the first African American councilman to Peter Lawson Jones who followed in his shoes right after. Currently Carmella Williams who was just elected into council in the city of Shaker. While also targeting other historical events in the city such as Martin Luther King’s visit to the city encouraging the community to vote. There were also exhibits on community people to vote during the election of Carl B. Stokes and many other events throughout time. .
This site began as an apple orchard and vegetable garden underneath with its locality being positioned right in the heart of the community of Shaker Heights, which makes it accessible to everyone. The site is effective to the entire community, apart from its connection to the past, it provides historical information, and it is also a public library still actively collecting information for its archives. What makes the site user friendly would be the ease to access to information. Though the Shaker Historical Society provides public information, admission is free for its members and only $5 for general admission. They also conduct requested research for researchers or anyone with interest, but if the request exceeds 15 minutes, an individual is charged $25 an hour. This is helpful for everyone, especially those who seek informational archives but may not know where to even begin. To help minimize the requested work overload, the library asks that researchers make appointments. From a visitor’s point of view I would suggest that this museum should be viewed as a very real experience for the simple fact that it is located in the heart of the Shaker Heights residential community.
Currently there are many families residing there with many in homes adjacent to the museum, which makes this Historical site special. When one first sees the location he would not think of it as an actual museum since it resembles a person’s residence. It has a very warm and cozy feeling as one walk into the mansion. While touring and exploring the mansion this unique experience makes the visitors feel a part of its culture and history. One can actually visualize how the families lived during that time in history. Historical researchers and teachers will also find the richness of the mansion’s history. Shaker Heights past and present has always been known for its upscale community. The community in which the mansion is located speaks of the economic wealth that the elite Ohioans were a part of. This community still holds true to that title.
This site applies to our course material as it relates to the progressive era period of 1897-1920: During this time the United States was experiencing many social and political changes. The Progressive main goal was unfolding and addressing the issues caused by unfair and illegal politics, industrialization and immigration concerns. President Woodrow Wilson presidency was held during the periods of 1913 through 1919. Under his leadership the progressive was established to fight for labor rights, strong central government. Urging congress to balance out the national and state governments. In 1913 The Van Sweringens started their building company through the purchase of many lots with the help of the Progressive Era. The Historical site was built by the Van Sweringens as a result of their establishment.
As a casual visitor, this museum can be a visit for the general public seeking information about the Shaker Heights community past, present, and future. The historical site and also the library provides factual information that many local individuals can gather for their own personal gain. From a historical researcher’s point of view, Shaker Historical Museum can be a valuable place for archives from the community. Archives gathered from other years can produce information to answer questions pertaining community development and even from political standpoints. Lastly, to view this museum from a teacher’s point of view, it can be very useful when providing visual information to students to help show the text-to-world correlations.
Overall, this visit has shown me how to research historical local sites near me and it has taught me that these sites can provide factual information that has been gathered from over the years. I really enjoy how user friendly historical sites can be as well, for example if I have a particular research topic I am working on I know that by visiting a historical site I will be provided with the proper resources to get the credible answers I need. In addition, Shaker Historical Museum also has a library, allowing me the opportunity to conduct my own research and gain information that can be used in a text-to-self relation.