Mission: The mission of the Montclair History Center is to PRESERVE, EDUCATE, and SHARE. We PRESERVE our local history through our historical buildings, artifacts and documents. We EDUCATE the community on local history and its importance through programs, advocacy and exhibits. We SHARE the stories and history of the various persons and groups that have and continue to shape Montclair. Adopted February 2012.
About Us:
The Montclair History Center (MHC), a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization, promotes preservation, study and appreciation of local history. The Montclair History Center was originally founded in 1965 to save the Israel Crane House, a Federal Revival style landmark home built by a local entrepreneur in 1796. It was relocated from Glen Ridge Avenue to its current location on Orange Road. Located next to the Israel Crane house’s new location is the Nathaniel Crane House. Built about 1818, it was donated to the Montclair History Center in 1973 by the Sampson family. Together, the two Crane Houses serve the public as a historic house museum, museum shop and space for demonstrations, lectures and classes interpreting our area’s past. In 2014, the scope of interpretation for the Crane House was expanded to include the period in the 20th century when it served as a YWCA for African American women and girls.
In 1984, MHC purchased the Clark House, located at 108 Orange Road, adjacent to the two Crane houses. The house, built in 1896, expanded the institution's ability to service the public by creating the Terhune Research Library and administrative offices. Since its inception, the Library has been a valuable resource for scholars, historians, local teachers and homeowners wishing to know more about their home (often to aide in restoration efforts and thus preserving historic districts).
