Historical Society's $75M Museum Falling Short

PHILADELPHIA-The Western Reserve Historical Society’s lease with the city of Cleveland stipulates it must raise at least $56.25 million, or 75% of the projected $75-million cost of a proposed Crawford Museum of Transportation and Industry before it can break ground. The museum is planned for city-owned land at Burke Lakefront Airport.

To date, the society has raised just $40 million, a shortfall that, according to published reports, jeopardizes future state support of the project. The new museum, which is designed to incorporate user-friendly, interactive features, would replace the existing Frederick C. Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in University Circle.

While Patrick Reymann, president of the historical society’s board of trustees, fails to guarantee in a printed statement that the project will go forward, he says, “We’re very confident. We’re much more than halfway through the project.