About Us
Our History
The organization initially resided in the Cleveland Plaza and subsequently the Statler Office Tower. Many of the thirty-three founding members remain active in the Society today, and over the years thousands more have joined the ranks as dues-paying members — representing the united historic preservation constituency in our region.
Later renamed the Cleveland Restoration Society in 1997, Maxine Goodman Levin lead the effort to establish the Sarah Benedict House as a center for historic preservation in Cleveland and indeed, throughout the region. With her nephew Mort Levin, Maxine provided the building and matching dollar-for-dollar donations for the renovation and endowment – thus making the dream of a visible preservation headquarters a reality.
Since the Cleveland Restoration Society's move into the magnificently restored Sarah Benedict House in 1999, the organization has grown significantly. The house strengthens the identity of the Society and demonstrates its commitment to historic preservation projects in and around Cleveland.
The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) is the largest non-governmental regional historic preservation organization in Ohio and is a partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. With an engaged board of trustees, a professional staff, headquarters in Cleveland, and active programs, today's Cleveland Restoration Society is recognized nationally as a leader in the American preservation movement.
