Hours:

The Portage County Historical Society will be closed for the holiday season, starting on December 11, 2021.  We'll be reopening on Saturday, January 8th, 2022.  
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Saturdays from 9:30 AM until 12 PM. Closed the first Saturday of the month.
Thursdays from 2PM until 5PM.
(We are entirely staffed by volunteers, so it's recommended that you call ahead to make sure we have staff on duty)
If you're coming in from out of town and would like to make an appointment for a day and time that we aren't typically open, call us at (330) 296-3523 and we can try to set something up.

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Clock Restoration Update: On Friday, November 5, Dick Whitmore and his grandson, Trystan, succeeded in lowering down to the floor of the clock tower most of the movement of the Seth Thomas #18 clock. They are hoping to finish the job before the really cold weather comes. You can see pictures of their work here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX5A1oW

Fundraising:
The Museum Boiler
Last Fall, the main boiler for the museum became cracked and required replacement and cost the society $8,500 in unexpected repairs. Since we operate mostly on donations and membership dues, this expense consumed nearly half of our annual budget. Large unforeseen expenses like this hinder our ability to stay open in the future.

We are asking for donations to help get us back on track financially for 2021 through a GoFundMe. Click HERE to visit the fundraiser.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Blind and Sons for donating labor and parts and making the boiler replacement expedient and simple.

If you prefer to make a donation via check you can mail us directly at 6549 N Chestnut Street Ravenna, Ohio 44266. Please let us know if you would like a letter documenting the gift for tax purposes.
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Portage County Historical Society Celebrates 70th Anniversary
John A. Lowrie, historian and founder, with the help of Dudley Weaver and Cyrus Plough, sparked an interest in a historical society back in the 1930’s and 40’s. Then World War II got in the way. It wasn’t until April 17, 1951, that the group met and officially created the Portage County Historical Society.
John Lowrie and his wife Alta agreed to donate a home to use as our first museum if the society obtained 600 members. By the end of 1951, that goal was more than reached with 800. That home served as the location of our museum until 1962. That year, Charlotte Strickland donated the property where we remain today. That same year, we started publishing our quarterly newsletter, which is still sent out to all members. We’ve grown a lot over the years. We rely entirely on donations for financial support, and continue our mission of educating the public by collecting, displaying, and preserving materials of historical value.

Please consider becoming a member or volunteering. We appreciate your support. 

You can follow us as well as contact us.  Also check out our Flickr page.
Portage County Historical Society