named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Lovejoy Veterans Recognition
Exhibit and community initiative honoring veterans from the Lovejoy neighborhood who served in WWII and other conflicts
Night At the Museum
Guided overnight paranormal investigation events held from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM, including historical tours and use of investigation equipment
Thursday Night Guided Tours
Weekly guided tours of the museum from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, offered for a $5 admission fee
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Advocating for preservation of local public assetsLeads petition campaigns to protect key community institutions and spaces, including Hennepin Park, Mead Branch Library, the local firehouse, Precinct 11, and police K-9 units.
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Historical Cemetery and Museum Ghost Tours 1 activity
- Conducting and presenting paranormal investigationsHosts guided ghost hunts, records and shares electronic voice phenomena (EVP) evidence—including interactive sessions with an entity named Tommy and other unidentified voices—and presents audio recordings from various dates featuring emotional outbursts, yelling, and commentary on events such as a falling ball.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Conducting historical research on Iron Island and the Lovejoy neighborhoodPerforms archival and historical research on the museum building and surrounding area, including the original 1888 wooden church and the history of Henry Lovejoy.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosting community events and festivalsOrganized and hosted an annual festival on Lovejoy Street for 13 years to support neighborhood preservation and community engagement, and regularly hosts events at its museum location.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operating a permanent historical museumRuns a museum established in 2000 in Buffalo, New York, to preserve and display donated historical artifacts, including a wooden altar from a 1896 church, railroad memorabilia, military uniforms, and a permanent exhibit honoring World War II veterans from the Lovejoy neighborhood.
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Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
- Organizing neighborhood beautification and preservation projectsConducts regular cleanups of public spaces such as Hennepin Park, Davey Street Playground, and neighborhood entry points, and installs seasonal decorations to maintain the historic character of Iron Island, a turn-of-the-century neighborhood in Buffalo, New York.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Engaging with media and paranormal investigation teamsHosted visits from Ghost Lab (featured on Discovery Channel) and TAPS: Ghosthunters, and was the subject of a Buffalo News article about a resident ghost named Edgar, contributing to public awareness and documentation of paranormal claims.
- Funding and installing community signage through fundraisingFinanced and installed a welcome sign at a main entrance to the City of Buffalo via community fundraising efforts.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$25K
Contributions & grants$10K39%
Program service revenue$15K61%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$25K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$105K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$105K
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +78.8%
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Buffalo News Partner — Featured the museum in a news article about a resident ghost.
- DWM Productions Inc. Partner — Website development partner responsible for creating and maintaining the Iron Island Museum website.
- Ghost Lab Partner — Visited and featured the museum in an episode aired on the Discovery Channel.
- Santoro Signs Partner — Donated a new sign to the Iron Island Museum in April 2009.
- TAPS: Ghosthunters Partner — Investigated and featured the museum in their program.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Preservation Modelmethodology: community-driven_preservationBy engaging volunteers in collective preservation efforts, the organization strengthens neighborhood quality of life and sustains local history, because community ownership fosters long-term stewardship and civic investment.
- Historic Preservation as Civic Pridemethodology: community-beautification-for-civic-prideBy restoring and maintaining the physical character of a historic neighborhood, the organization promotes civic pride, because visible heritage reinforces residents' sense of identity and belonging.
- Local History Commemorationmethodology: local-history-preservationBy preserving and displaying veterans' service histories, the organization strengthens community ties to the past, because personal narratives make history tangible and foster intergenerational respect.
- Paranormal Investigation as Public Engagementmethodology: paranormal_investigationBy conducting documented ghost hunts and capturing unaltered EVPs, the museum validates and presents paranormal phenomena to engage the public, because experiential authenticity increases visitor interest and trust in the historical narrative.
- Venue-Based Public Engagementmethodology: venue-based_engagementBy using its museum space as a venue for events, the organization deepens public connection to local history, because physical immersion in a historic setting enhances educational impact and community participation.