Mission & Vision
Mission
Inspire people to discover the American experience by exploring the tangible history of Northeast Ohio.
Vision
Be the first stop for the exploration of Cleveland and American history in Northeast Ohio.
Values
Integrity
We are honest, accurate, and transparent in every aspect of our operation.
Stewardship
We are committed to the custody, care, and honoring of the history of Northeast Ohio.
Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion
Our commitment to DEAI is unwavering and central to our mission.
Innovation
We empower and support an entrepreneurial mindset.
Excellence
Underscores all that we do.
Promise
WRHS prioritizes and elevates People, Place and Purpose. For our People – the WRHS community and the communities we serve – WRHS strives for a culture of excellence, diversity, equity, access and inclusion (DEAI). We apply best practices to the stewardship of our many Places, collections and digital resources. It is our Purpose to empower an entrepreneurial spirit to create, promote and sustain a relevant, experience driven organization for the benefit and enrichment of our communities and future generations. We approach our work through an equity lens to ensure that our collections, experiences, and people reflect the rich diversity of Northeast Ohio.
AAM Pledge of Excellence
WRHS demonstrates its commitment to the museum field by taking the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Pledge of Excellence:
WRHS pledges that, in fulfillment of its educational mission, it will strive to operate according to national standards and best practices to the best of its abilities and in accordance with its resources.
Strategic Plan – WRHS 150
WRHS’s strategic plan prioritizes and elevates People, Place and Purpose. For our People – the WRHS community and the communities we serve – WRHS strives for a culture of excellence, diversity, equity, access and inclusion (DEAI). We apply best practices to the stewardship of our Places, collections and digital resources. It is our Purpose to empower the entrepreneurial spirit to create, promote, and sustain a relevant, experience driven organization. We approach our work through an equity lens to ensure that collections, experiences, staff and Board reflect the rich diversity of Northeast Ohio.
Goals of the WRHS 150 Strategic Plan:
- Create a welcoming and vibrant environment for enjoying and learning about history in Northeast Ohio, whether on-site, off-site, or on-line.
- Be accountable for our historic physical resources, on behalf of the people in Northeast Ohio for whom we hold these resources in public trust.
- Actively strive toward a viable, stable, yet flexible organization that can evolve and grow as necessary over time.
WRHS Code of Conduct
Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) is dedicated to making all staff and guests feel welcome, safe and engaged. At WRHS, we prioritize people – the WRHS community and the communities we serve. WRHS strives for a culture of excellence, diversity, equity, access and inclusion. We apply best practices to the stewardship of our places, collections and digital resources. It is our purpose to empower an entrepreneurial spirit to create, promote, and sustain a relevant, experience driven organization. We approach our work through an equity lens to ensure that collections, experiences, staff and board reflect the rich diversity of Northeast Ohio.
WRHS is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free experience for everyone, including ALL guests, vendors and independent contractors, volunteers, interns, stakeholders, community partners and employees. Accordingly, WRHS prohibits harassment or discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, ability, veteran or military status, or other dimensions of diversity. Harassment and/or offensive behavior (which may include slurs, epithets, sexual advances, discrimination, demeaning comments, exclusion from participation, comments on appearance or ability, threats, etc.) is not tolerated. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel your safety is at risk, or if you bear witness to behavior that you feel is unacceptable, please immediately visit one of the admissions desks or reach out to a WRHS staff member. WRHS will investigate all reported incidents with discretion, and urgency. As a consequence, WRHS reserves the right to revoke, without refund, access to the museum sites and/or WRHS membership.
Since 1867, WRHS is committed to preserving and providing access to the history, culture and development of Cleveland and northeast Ohio. We pledge to provide a safe, welcoming, accessible and enriching experience to all, with integrity and adhering to the highest level of standards for personal and professional conduct.
