MEDIA CONTACT: Monique Johnson Manager of Marketing 216-721-5722,
ext. 229
THE HAY-MCKINNEY MANSION AT THE WESTERN RESERVE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY RE-OPENS FOR TOURS THIS OCTOBER
CLEVELAND, OH – On October 15, 2008, the
Hay-McKinney Mansion of The Western Reserve Historical Society will re-open to
the public for self-guided tours.
The Hay-McKinney Mansion has
been closed to the public over the past year, while undergoing restoration work,
with a grant provided by the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.
The mansion is one of two Italian Renaissance-style buildings that house the
History Museum of The Western Reserve Historical Society’s University Circle
headquarters. It was built in the early 20th century for Clara Stone Hay,
widow of John Hay and daughter of wealthy Clevelander Amasa Stone. She
commissioned Abram Garfield, President Garfield’s youngest son to design the
home for her, complete with a terraced courtyard garden and modern conveniences.
In the past, the Hay-McKinney mansion has been the site of holiday
tours at WRHS. This holiday season, the tradition returns with Candlelight
Tours, beginning December 5. Visitors can travel back in time to bygone
eras as the Hay-McKinney mansion is transformed into a festive paradise.
The entire first floor of the Hay House will be decorated, some rooms in
dramatic flair, and others with a Victorian theme in mind, to capture the spirit
of the season across the decades. Highlights will include the Great Glass Hall,
Reception Room, and awe-inspiring Dining Room. Candlelight tours will be
given in the evenings at 7 p.m.
The Western Reserve Historical Society
is located at 10825 East Blvd. in University Circle. For more information
on the Hay McKinney mansion and Candlelight Tours, call 216-721-5722.
Beginning October 1, WRHS museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays,
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesday hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
and Sunday hours are 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Admission to the Museum is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, and $5 for
children and students. Members are free. With admission, visitors
gain access to The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, The History Museum, The
Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, the Hay-McKinney Mansion and the WRHS Library.
The Western Reserve Historical Society was founded in 1867, making it the oldest
cultural institution in Northeast Ohio. With headquarters in University Circle,
the renowned arts and culture district of Cleveland, the Society operates nine
separate but related collections at five historic properties throughout the
region. The mission of WRHS is to collect, preserve and present the history of
all the people of Northeast Ohio.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: