We envision a future where our architectural and cultural heritage is recognized as essential in sustaining diverse and thriving communities.
Places that have endured in our communities are a reflection of our history and culture. We strive to provide advice on the best methods and materials to rehabilitate buildings and to adapt them for new uses in our communities, to connect people with sources of funding to make rehab projects possible, and to advocate for progressive public policies that reward smart growth, respect our heritage and promote sustainability.
We know that out of collaborations with individuals and partners, we can build a stronger community that recognizes the vibrancy in diverse neighborhoods where lives are lived and memories are made. Our buildings and neighborhoods – and the stories of those who built, nurtured, and continue to care for them – constantly teach us new lessons, informing our lives today and benefiting future generations.
Weave your way through Cleveland and immerse yourself in the history along the African American Civil Rights Trail.
Step back in time and retrace the footsteps of civil rights advocates as they marched across Cleveland in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Our current projects are centered on place-making, where stories and architectural heritage intersect.
We aspire to build strategic relationships that allow the Cleveland Restoration Society to create and facilitate preservation-based community initiatives for the benefit of all our citizens.

Jesse Owens Family Home
| 2178 E. 100th St., Cleveland, OH | The Jesse Owens Family Home, located at 2178 E. 100th Street in Cleveland, is a designated Cleveland Landmark and the former residence of Olympic…

Lee Harvard: The Suburb in the City
This book, the first-ever published history of these neighborhoods, documents and celebrates a success story, a Cleveland case of Black community-building. The story starts just west of the intersection of Lee and…

The African-American Experience in Cleveland
The Cleveland Restoration Society’s 40th Anniversary Legacy Project was a survey of resources significant to Cleveland’s African-American history and culture followed by an educational component called “Know Our Heritage.” The survey was…

Make History by Preserving History!
For over 50 years, Cleveland Restoration Society has worked to preserve, protect, and celebrate the historic places that matter to Northeast Ohio’s communities. Your generous gift will help support historic preservation projects in Greater Cleveland.
Every penny goes toward the fulfillment of our mission to preserve, protect, and celebrate historic buildings and places that foster vibrant and inclusive communities.



