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The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum of the Western Reserve Historical Society depicts the automobile at various stages of development, both on a national and regional level. Its automobiles and artifacts are the centerpieces of two major exhibits at the Cleveland History Center in University Circle: Setting the World in Motion and REVolution: The Automobile in America.

Few people know that Northeast Ohio was a crucial hub of development in the transportation industry. The Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection brings the history of transportation alive through the over 170 antique automobiles, 21 non-car transportation artifacts (motorcycles, bicycles, and boats), 12 aircraft, and 3 carriages and sleighs. The Collection is enhanced further by the WRHS Automotive Marque Files, which include automobile brochures, owner’s manuals, advertisements, and more. The Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection was initially formed in 1963, with the donation of Thompson Products Auto Album from Frederick C. Crawford and TRW.

For more on Frederick C. Crawford and his incredible generosity to the Western Reserve Historical Society, click here.

Preservation Methods with the Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection

Preservation does not mean restoration at the Crawford. We do not restore the vehicles, their components, or any other artifacts unless it is absolutely necessary. We preserve the vehicles and artifacts in their current condition by using accepted practices of the AIC (American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works). Once we have done a treatment to a vehicle or any other artifact it should look similar to what it did before the treatment, depending upon initial condition.