Upcoming Events
We evaluate events and programs on a case-by-case basis and may cancel or postpone upcoming events if we cannot ensure the safety of our visitors and staff due to COVID.
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2025 Programs & Events
Shaker Sells Exhibit Opening
March 7 | 6-8pm | Shaker Historical Society
Join us on March 7 for the free opening reception of our new exhibition Shaker Sells, co-curated with Cleveland State University student Elliot Rendall. In the 19th century, the Shaker name signified quality through the brooms, furniture, seeds, and medicinal herbs that sustained their communities. After the decline of Cleveland’s North Union Village, the Van Sweringen brothers repurposed Shaker imagery to market Shaker Heights as an idyllic escape from industrial Cleveland. Their exclusive suburb contradicted Shaker values, yet the romanticized image of a “peaceful Shaker village” fueled the city’s growth and remains a lasting brand to today.
Shaker Sells opens in our first-floor temporary gallery in conjunction with History is Messy by Chuck Mintz in the second-floor Lissauer Gallery. Light refreshments will be provided. This exhibit will be on view through August 10, 2025 and is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
History is Messy Exhibit Opening
March 7 | 6-8pm | Shaker Historical Society
Join us on March 7 for the free opening reception of our new Lissauer Gallery exhibition History is Messy. Between 1883 and 1929, Andrew Carnegie funded 2,500 “Carnegie Libraries,” 1,700 in the United States. He required local support for the libraries but not much else. It amounted to over a billion dollars in today’s funds. Carnegie was an emblem of the Gilded Age and a ruthless businessman. Here we are roughly a century later and, arguably, are in yet a second gilded age. Most of these libraries are still in use - in cities and very small towns. Although a great deal has changed, when you go into these places, a great deal is the same. Children still listen to stories. It is a safe and comfortable place. There are still books, though there are computers, the Internet, audiobooks, and a full spectrum of contemporary media. Librarians are there to recommend and to assist in research. The public value of these places is palpable. You can feel it. The project includes 125 libraries in 12 states and one province. In each image, there is a librarian with a favorite book.
History is Messy opens in our second-floor Lissauer Gallery in conjunction with Shaker Sells on the first floor. Light refreshments will be provided. The upcoming viewing of History is Messy highlights selections from this body of work, including photographs of Cleveland-area Carnegie libraries. This exhibit will be on view through June 1, 2025 and is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Historic Homes Tour
April 6 | 10am-3pm | Meet at Nature Center at Shaker Lakes | TICKETS REQUIRED
Step back in time and experience the history of Shaker Heights, the Shaker Parklands, and the Freeway Fight of the 1960s. With sweeping views and access to preserved parklands, this year’s homes will not disappoint. The program begins with a brunch and presentation highlighting the significance of the freeway fight on our local homes and greenspaces. Next, guests will join a trolley tour of four stunning and unique homes that were once in the path of the proposed freeway. Each home on West Park, South Park, and Shaker Boulevards is rich with history, which will be detailed on this tour.
Limited tickets available. $160 per person, $125* for Shaker Historical Society or Nature Center Members. Inclement weather date: April 13. Please list any food/drink allergies or restrictions during registration. Booties provided, or bring house shoes. Attendees must be able to navigate stairs.
*SHS members, please contact shakerhistory@shakerhistory.org for the promo code.
Self-Guided Tours
If you are interested in learning about Shaker Heights on your own time, please download one of our driving or bike tours: