Pop Up Family Program

When you visit the Cleveland History Center this summer, take an hour to learn more about a fun historical topic through hands-on activities for the whole family!

Pop Up Family Programs will take place each Thursday at 1pm between June 12 and August 14.

These programs are included with general admission, so all Pop Up Family Program tickets purchased in advance include access to all open CHC exhibits & galleries as well as unlimited rides on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.

A list of themes and program dates is below.

How Cars Go

• June 12
• July 24

Explore the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum with a family-friendly exploration of what makes cars go and how that's changed over time. From crank starts to keys, from alternative fuels to gasoline and back again, we'll explore the transformation from horseless carriages to the sleekly designed vehicles of today.

Juneteenth!

• June 19 (note: rather than a guided experience, this craft and activity will be ongoing for all museum visitors between 1 and 3pm.)

Visit the Cleveland History Center on Juneteenth to learn more about the vibrant history of Cleveland's Black community. The pop-up program this day will include a take-home craft as well as a hands-on activity.

Archaeology Exploration 

• June 26
• July 31

Explore the early history of the Western Reserve. Learn about Native Americans, their first contact with European settlers, and how archaeologists study the past. 

Ohio and American History

• July 3

Celebrate Independence Day at the Cleveland History Center! In this hour-long program, we will examine Ohio’s involvement in notable events in American history. Learn about trading posts in the Beaver Wars, analyze the Spirit of ‘76, examine the WW2 home front in Cleveland, and complete a scavenger hunt in our galleries. 

Tiffany Light and Color 

• July 10
• August 7

Visit the Hay-McKinney Mansion to see Louis Comfort Tiffany artifacts in our collection, learn more about Tiffany's special glass-making process, and explore Cleveland's connections to the Tiffany & Co. Then, create your own design to capture color and light and make a project to take home.

The History of Toys & Games

• July 17
• August 14

We'll visit the Hay-McKinney Mansion’s restored nursery to learn about the lives of the McKinney children who lived there from 1916-1925, and pay a special visit to the exhibit All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures. Participants will experience the joys of reproduction historical toys, and think about how the act of playing has changed over time.