Have a special birthday coming up? Maybe a small, intimate wedding or baby shower? Consider renting the Shaker Historical Society! We are currently accepting bookings for April 2023 through the end of the year. 

What we offer:

• A beautiful historic site and mansion located in Shaker Heights across the street from Horseshoe Lake Park

• Limited on-site parking and street parking for guests

• Quaint gardens and backyard for an open air or tented event

• Space for up to 40 guests inside the museum

• Space for over 100 guests on our grounds

• Full kitchen access for vendors/caterers of your choosing 

• A fair and reasonable rate for all event rentals, including exclusive SHS member discounts

For more detailed information and pricing, please review our rental packet here.

If you are interested in renting the museum, complete our rental inquiry form and a staff member will follow up with you within 7 business days of receiving your request. We encourage all potential renters to walk through the space before committing. If we are able to accommodate your event, a rental contract and 50% deposit will be required to secure your rental.

Questions? Please contact Kate Walker, Operations & Events Manager, at events@shakerhistory.org.

Garden Bed Rental FAQs

• Planting: The SHS garden beds are available to all renters on a rough schedule from Memorial Day to Labor Day (+/- 2 weeks). All garden beds must be cleared out by October 31. You are free to plant what you like in your garden, so long as the plants do not spread outside of your allotted bed. All plants must be contained in your garden bed. Exceptions can be made for vining/bushing plants such as beans/tomatoes which can be caged and grown up/out (use your best judgement). SHS reserves the right to trim back any plants growing outside of the garden beds for the purposes of lawn maintenance/garden access.

• Identification of Plots: SHS uses small lawn stakes to identify your plots. You may also purchase something to identify your plot as you deem appropriate. We identify the plots based on the last name you submitted on your rental agreement. 

• Soil: SHS is unable to provide additional soil beyond what is currently in the raised beds. If you need additional soil, we recommend Tilth Soil's raised bed mix, a product of local group Rust Belt Riders. 

• Water Access: Until our rain barrel is reinstalled, you may continue to use the hose behind the garage. Please make sure the water is completely off after using.

• Tools: We encourage you to bring your own garden tools to maintain your bed.

• Netting and Pest Control: Rabbits and deer love your veggies! You may utilize non-chemical pest control options, but the application of chemical-based herbicides (weed killers), insecticides/pesticides, or fertilizers is strictly prohibited. You may use netting on stakes, so long as the stakes are within the perimeter of your garden bed. No stakes, cages, or netting are permitted outside of your garden bed. Netting is the responsibility of the renter, and any fallen/broken stakes or holes in netting are the renter's responsibility. SHS reserves the right to move any stakes or netting that fall or break outside of the renter's bed for purposes of lawn maintenance and access to the garden. SHS is not responsible for any netting holes or broken stakes/cages caused by weather or pests.

• SHS Scheduling: SHS is working to create safe and fun programming this summer, including programs outside on our grounds. Please be aware that some events might prevent access to your garden. We encourage you to sign up for our email list to be notified of upcoming events.

• COVID-19 Precautions: We encourage all garden renters to bring a mask with them when they are tending their garden. You are not required to wear a mask if you are alone or working with people in your household. You are encouraged to wear a mask if working in the garden beds at the same time as another renter or around museum guests, staff, or volunteers on the grounds. Please use social distancing when working in the garden.

Don’t have a bike? Need more bikes?

The Shaker Historical Society has 8 adult-size bikes and helmets available to rent this summer! Bikes can be picked up after 11am on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Bikes must be returned by 4:30pm Wednesday-Friday. There is a $10 nonrefundable fee per bike, which covers the first hour. Each additional hour is $10/hour per bike for non-members and $7/hour per bike for members. You will be required to sign a liability waiver, registration form, and provide your driver’s license or government issued ID for the museum to keep until you return the bikes. You will be charged $200 per bike if a bike is not returned.

Please note that you may use our bikes for free when participating in a Bike Shaker 2022 guided tour.

Rental Times

Wednesday: 11am-3:30pm   //   Return by: 4:30pm

Thursday: 11am-3:30pm   //   Return by: 4:30pm

Friday: 11am-3:30pm   //   Return by: 4:30pm

Rental Rates

First hour: $10 non-refundable deposit per bike

Each additional hour: $10/hour per bike for non-members, $7/hour per bike for members

★ Questions? 

Email: education@shakerhistory.org 

Call*: 216.921.1201 or toll free 800.860.6078 

*Please note SHS staff works on a partial work-from-home schedule. Please call between 11am-4:30pm Wednesday-Friday to speak with our educator.