Programs & Collections

Since 1889, the Lorain County Historical Society (LCHS) has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Lorain County.

Our story begins one year earlier, when a group of women from Elyria formed the Centennial Loan Association. This Association’s goal was to collect and develop an exhibit of objects to represent Lorain County for display at the Ohio Centennial Celebration in Columbus. The success of the Association’s exhibit instilled pride in the community, so much so that the women were inspired to form a permanent organization. They formed the Lorain County Historical Society in 1889 to collect, preserve, and exhibit artifacts and documents about Lorain County’s early history for the benefit residents and visitors.

Today, LCHS serves the community by focusing on its mission to collect, preserve, and share the history of Lorain County to educate and inspire present and future generations. This work, done primarily through Education Programs, Collections, Library Research, and Events, remains as relevant now as it was over 130 years ago.

Please note that LCHS is not currently accepting object donations while we assess and update our current storage to ensure we are the best possible stewards of our collection. We value your support and look forward to accepting object donations in the future. If your offer is time sensitive, please consider contacting other museums for possible donations.