People & Stories

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"What's a human being without a story?"—American author Tom Spanbauer.

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The Cuyahoga Valley resonates with stories of people, past and present. They tell of discovery, self-expression, hardship, gain, love, and humor. Some describe how people changed the landscape to make a living or how American history unfolded here. Many stories were never recorded and have become lost or dimmed through time. Whenever possible, Cuyahoga Valley National Park tries to preserve stories or their remnants. These can teach us where we have been and shape where we are going.

Uncovering and Understanding the Past

How do we know about the past? The answers to many of our questions can’t be found in history books. To piece together what happened, we use a combination of strategies. Archeology reveals what people left behind. Historical research may involve searching through property records, census records, birth and death records, agricultural reports, family genealogy, historical images, diaries, written memories, and oral histories. It is common to find contradictions or have one puzzle lead to another. The process is like detective work.

Once the raw information is put together, we consult with scholars and other experts to help us interpret the meaning and put it into a larger context. When appropriate, we consult with the Tribes affiliated with Cuyahoga Valley.

Use the links below to explore our wealth of stories. These major areas of study are works in progress. Check back periodically to see what we’ve added.

 

 

Share Your Knowledge

There is still a lot to discover. Our staff regularly work on cultural resource projects. We also share valley stories with the public, in person and online. Sometimes we need extra help. If you share our passion for history and would like to get involved, contact the volunteer office to see what opportunities are available.

Perhaps you or an elder family member has a personal connection to Cuyahoga Valley. If you have historical photos or memories to share, email us at e-mail us. Our capacity to do additional oral histories is limited but we would love to hear from you.

Learn More

Cuyahoga Valley maintains a small research library and archive in Everett. You can make an appointment to visit Hawkins Library by emailing us. We also encourage you to explore the collections of local historical societies and universities. Good places to start are Summit Memory and Cleveland Memory.

To our knowledge, about 400 oral histories have been conducted to reveal aspects of Cuyahoga Valley history. Many have been done by or with partners. Several of these oral history projects are available online as part of Cleveland Voices. This website is managed by Cleveland State University’s Center for Public History + Digital Humanities.

In 2009, PBS Western Reserve commissioned a one-hour documentary called Generations: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A new welcome was added in 2019 when Boston Mill Visitor Center opened. You can watch the film online and download the teacher guide.

We encourage you to follow us on Facebook or Instagram. We use both platforms to share stories and highlight new research.