Shaker Historical Society
WE'RE OPEN!
As of April 7, the Shaker Historical Society is open to visitors by appointment-only from 11am-5pm on Wednesday-Friday with a goal of resuming our normal operating hours by May. Book your visit here!
Keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram, and website or sign up for our newsletter for the most up-to-date information about programs and events. While our doors are closed, you can still view our digital exhibits on our website and several past programs on our YouTube page!
Our top priorities during this time are to keep visitors and staff safe and healthy; to keep the collection safe; and to maintain a connection with the community.
Upcoming Programs & Events
SHS Garden Bed Rentals: 2021 Season
Open now, spaces limited!
Want to get into gardening? Don't have the right space for a garden this year? Consider renting one of our community garden beds at SHS! For more information and to download a rental agreement, please visit our rentals page here!
Shaker's Attic Closing Reception
May 21, 2021 | 6-8pm | Shaker Historical Society
Join the Shaker Historical Society for this free closing reception for our current exhibit Shaker’s Attic: A History of Community Giving. It’s not uncommon for local historical societies to become "community attics” after decades of donations from residents and organizations. Like attics, many objects go into storage and rarely come out.
Shaker’s Attic is curated by SHS Board Member Hazel Smith (a sophomore at Shaker Heights High School) and highlights treasures from the museum’s collection donated by active Shaker residents that are not on view yet hold significant historical value.
Masks and social distancing will be required, and you may be asked to wait in another room if the gallery is at capacity. Parking is available behind the museum and on the north side of South Park Boulevard across from the museum. This exhibit is also available to view digitally!
Century Garden: Planting Ceremony
May 22, 2021 | 11am-2:30pm | Shaker Historical Society
Bring your brown bag lunch and join in the fun! Shaker Historical Society and Story Forum invite you to this festival celebrating the creation of the Century Garden on site at the Shaker History Museum, 16740 South Park Boulevard, Shaker Heights from 11am-2:30pm on Saturday, May 22.
We will take a break for lunch (please bring your own brown bag lunch) in between four, half-hour stations of creating scare crows and story building, participants can make butter and plant heritage seeds in the pre-1700s to the 2000s garden beds! We will feature Robin Pease of Kulture Kids who will provide an Indigenous American story telling performance where audience will be invited to engage in a planting ceremony narrative! (Snacks will be provided).
Learn more and register here!
Mother's Day Tea Party
May 23, 2021 (Rain Date) | 2pm | Shaker Historical Society
The Shaker Historical Society requests the pleasure of your company for tea and cakes on Sunday, May the twenty-third at two o’clock in the afternoon! Make sure not to miss out on a teatime filled with crafts, contests, flowers, and a celebration of (any) loving caregiver and their children.
This event will include tea and other beverages, an individual bundt cake, supplies for fancy mask decorating, flowers for arrangements, music, dancing, and laughter. We understand that this year has been challenging for many and are requesting a $20 donation, which would include everything listed for up to four family members. We will also be offering the opportunity, for those who are able, to “pay it forward” and support other families who are not able to donate but wish to participate. So dress in your fanciest (or most fun) tea party attire and visit shakerhistory.org to reserve your spot!
Learn more and register (2 spots left!)
Shaker Century Garden
In a year full of great change and loss, Story Forum, Inc. and The Shaker Historical Society have partnered to unite our community around a shared history to grieve lost time together and pave the way forward with renewed hope for the future. The goal of this project is to connect Shaker Heights families with each other, the history of the area, and the greater Shaker community through storytelling based on The Century Garden and corresponding care, maintenance, and programming.
Learn more about the Century Garden and register here!
Summer Camps
Registration open now, spaces limited!
The Shaker Historical Society is happy to announce the return of our Summer Camps this year! We are hosting two, 5-day, in-person camps this summer that are sure to excite, entertain, and engage all campers!
Hopping Through History
June 21-25 | 9am-1pm
Grades 3-8
Shaker Dig 7
July 12-16 | 9am-12pm
Grades 1-6
Learn more and register here!
Current & Upcoming Exhibits
Shaker's Attic — November 7, 2020 - May 23, 2021
It’s not uncommon for historical societies to become "community attics” after decades of donations from residents and organizations. Like attics, many objects go into storage and rarely come out. Shaker’s Attic: A History of Community Giving is curated by our Junior Board Member Hazel Smith and highlights treasures from the museum’s collection, donated by active Shaker residents, that are not on view yet hold significant historical value.