named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Customized Exhibits
Design and production of historical exhibits for businesses, organizations, and government agencies to highlight their heritage and contributions.
Educational Programming
Over 120 annual programs including Living History Tours, Ghostwalks, lectures, in-school programs, teacher training, and curriculum development.
History Highlights Magazine
Biannual glossy publication featuring local history stories, produced as a membership benefit and available for purchase.
Onondaga Historical Museum
Flagship museum located in downtown Syracuse featuring permanent exhibits on the history of Onondaga County, including the Underground Railroad, Syracuse China, and brewing history, along with rotating temporary galleries.
Richard & Carolyn Wright Research Center
Comprehensive local history research facility housing one of the most significant collections of historical material in the region, open to the public.
Skä·noñh – Great Law of Peace Center
Cultural center in Liverpool, NY, presenting the history and values of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) through oral history films and a recreated 17th-century compound, Mission of Sainte Marie Among the Iroquois.
The Brewseum at Heritage Hill
Museum showcasing the region’s pre-Prohibition brewery history, located at Heritage Hill Brewhouse in Pompey, NY, featuring historic advertisements, photos, and artifacts.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Collects and preserves historical materialsCollects, preserves, processes, interprets, stores, and exhibits historical, genealogical, scientific, and literary materials related to Syracuse and Onondaga County, including significant acquisitions such as the 140-year archive of the Syracuse China Company.
- Installs and maintains community exhibitsDesigns, installs, and maintains permanent and traveling historical exhibits throughout Onondaga County, including at the Onondaga County War Memorial, Bonadio Group headquarters, and the Onondaga Creekwalk, often in collaboration with local institutions.
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Local History Publishing 2 activities
- Produces publications on local historyProduces and publishes the biannual magazine "History Highlights," regular newspaper columns ("This Week in History" in the Post-Standard, "History by OHA" in The Good Life), and contributes weekly stories to Syracuse.com and monthly features to the Central New York Business Journal, in addition to publishing hardcover and softcover books on regional history.
- Provides historical context for mediaAuthors articles and makes media appearances on regional history topics, including regular contributions to the Post Standard and Bridge Street, to provide historical context for current local news stories.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Delivers educational programs and public presentationsProvides over 120 educational programs annually, including Living History Tours (e.g., Ghostwalks), lectures, in-school programs, teacher training, curriculum development, and public tours, covering topics such as female philanthropy, the Jerry Rescue, and brewing history in Syracuse.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Hosts public and private eventsOffers facilities for rent to host corporate gatherings, weddings, and private parties, and hosts annual fundraising and community engagement events such as the gala “Our Glorious Workplaces,” member events, book clubs, and exhibition openings.
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Historic Aviation and Transportation Museums 1 activity
- Operates Regional Aviation History MuseumOperates the Regional Aviation History Museum, which showcases the transportation and aviation history of Onondaga County using artifacts, photos, video, 3-D models, and flight trackers.
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Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operates museum gift storesOperates two museum gift stores at its locations, offering historically themed, educational retail products tied to local history.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Produces historical films and digital contentProduces short films, PBS interstitials, mobile-accessible videos, oral history documentaries, and longer-form documentaries, including QR code-linked videos for the Onondaga Creekwalk Trail and films featuring Haudenosaunee leaders.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Provides customized exhibits and services for organizationsCreates customized historical exhibitions, presentations, and film productions for businesses and organizations, such as the traveling exhibit for the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, and offers product licensing and creative merchandise development based on historical collections.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Provides governance and organizational leadershipProvides governance and strategic guidance by advising leadership, raising funds for programs and exhibitions, and recruiting board members to advance the organization’s mission.
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Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Provides research and consultation servicesOffers research services and historical expertise to organizations and the public, supporting customized exhibits, publications, and educational content.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operates Skä•noñh – Great Law of Peace CenterOperates the Skä•noñh – Great Law of Peace Center in Liverpool, NY, which presents the history and values of the Haudenosaunee from the perspective of the Onondaga Nation, including a recreated 17th-century Sainte Marie compound and 4-minute films featuring Haudenosaunee elders sharing oral traditions.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.11M
Contributions & grants$765K69%
Program service revenue$78K7%
Investment income$229K21%
Other revenue$42K
expenses
Total expenses$1.44M
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$985K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.61M
Cash$318K
Investments$2.73M
Liabilities$336K
Net assets$4.27M
Liquid reserves25.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -23.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA MOORE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $127K |
board members · 24
- BRUCE KENAN — DIRECTOR
- CHAD ROGERS — SECRETARY
- CHRISTINE WOODCOCK-DETTOR — 2ND VICE PRESIDENT
- CLAYTON HALE JR — DIRECTOR
- DANIELLE MCCANN-CIMA — DIRECTOR
- DARCY DIBIASE — DIRECTOR
- DAVID LANE — DIRECTOR
- DENNIS HEBERT — TREASURER
- GEORGE R MCGUIRE — ASSISTANT TREASURER
- GERALD MATHEWS — DIRECTOR
- KAREN TIFFT — DIRECTOR
- LEE A DE AMICIS — PRESIDENT
- LOUIS FOURNIER — DIRECTOR
- MARISSA CAMERON — DIRECTOR
- MARK HETTLER — DIRECTOR
- MARY PAT OLIKER — 1ST VICE PRESIDENT
- MICHAEL HARTWELL — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL TISDELL — DIRECTOR
- NANCY BYRNE — DIRECTOR
- PATRICK HEATON — DIRECTOR
- RICHARD CALAGIOVANNI — DIRECTOR
- SCOTT MILLER — DIRECTOR
- TOM HEWITT — DIRECTOR
- VICTOR VACCARO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 42
Who they work with
- Ascent Technologies Group, Inc. Partner — Board member Hadwen Fuller affiliated with Ascent Technologies Group, Inc. contributes technology sector perspective.
- Bonadio Group Partner — Board member Mark Hettler, CPA (Ret.), formerly of Bonadio Group, contributes financial oversight.
- Bonadio Group Partner — Collaborates on a permanent exhibit about the Bradley Powered Forging Hammer at Bonadio Group’s headquarters.
- Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC Partner — Board member George McGuire, Esq., affiliated with Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC contributes legal expertise.
- CNY-The Good Life Partner — Anchors the back of every issue with historical content.
- Central New York Business Journal Partner — Regular contributor of historical content and feature articles.
- Central New York Business Journal Partner — publishes monthly feature articles on historical industry topics written by OHA.
- Community Bank System Partner — Board member Danielle McCann Cima affiliated with Community Bank System contributes to organizational leadership.
- Crouse Hospital Partner — Partnered with OHA on a company exhibit for its 120th anniversary.
- Dannible & McKee LLP Partner — Board member Victor Vaccaro, CPA, affiliated with Dannible & McKee LLP provides accounting expertise.
- Destiny USA Partner — Board member Bruce Kenan affiliated with Destiny USA participates in organizational governance.
- EDR Companies Partner — Board member Pat Heaton affiliated with EDR Companies contributes to organizational leadership.
- Fishs Eddy Partner — Partnered with OHA to create merchandise using OHA's collection.
- FustCharles LLP Partner — Board member Mike Hartwell, CPA, affiliated with FustCharles LLP serves as Treasurer.
- Glazed & Confused Partner — Partnered with OHA to create merchandise using OHA's collection.
- J J Lane Construction, Inc. Partner — Board member David Lane affiliated with J J Lane Construction, Inc. supports OHA through board membership.
- King + King Architects Partner — Board member Chad Rogers affiliated with King + King Architects supports OHA through governance.
- M&T Bank Partner — Board member Lee De Amicis, retired from M&T Bank, contributes banking sector experience.
- Mackenzie Hughes Partner — Board member Clayton Hale, Esq., affiliated with Mackenzie Hughes provides legal expertise through board service.
- Mello Velo Partner — Partnered with OHA to create merchandise using OHA's collection.
- NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV Partner — Board member Andrew Donovan affiliated with NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV supports OHA through media expertise and governance.
- OneGroup Retirement Advisors Partner — Board member Michael Tisdell, AIF, CPFA, affiliated with OneGroup Retirement Advisors contributes financial planning expertise.
- Onondaga County War Memorial Partner — Collaborates with the Onondaga County War Memorial to host a permanent military history exhibit.
- Onondaga County War Memorial Partner — Hosts OHA historical exhibits at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
- Onondaga Creekwalk Partner — Hosts OHA historical exhibits along the Onondaga Creekwalk.
- Onondaga Nation Partner — Collaborates with the Onondaga Nation to present Haudenosaunee history and values at the Skä•noñh – Great Law of Peace Center.
- PBS Partner — Produces 90-second interstitial films for broadcast on PBS.
- Post-Standard Partner — Regularly contributes historical content and feature articles to the Post-Standard and Syracuse Media Group publications.
- Post-Standard Newspaper Partner — publishes regular articles by OHA, including “This Week in History” and “History by OHA”.
- S & L Specialty Contracting Partner — Board member Marissa Cameron affiliated with S & L Specialty Contracting serves as First Vice President.
+ 12 more
strategies · 3
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 as Co-Creator of Historymethodology: public-engagement-as-history-makingBy engaging the public not just as audiences but as active contributors to historical interpretation, the organization fosters deeper community ownership of history because participatory engagement transforms passive reception into collective meaning-making and civic agency.
- Indigenous-Centered Historical Narrativemethodology: Indigenous-centered narrativeBy presenting Haudenosaunee history and values from the perspective of the Onondaga Nation, the organization produces more authentic and empowering historical storytelling because centering Indigenous voices challenges dominant colonial narratives and affirms living cultural authority.
- Oral History as Foundational Knowledgemethodology: oral-history-centered interpretationBy using oral history as a primary method for preserving and interpreting Haudenosaunee history, the organization validates Indigenous epistemologies and strengthens cultural continuity because oral traditions are recognized as legitimate, authoritative, and essential to accurate historical understanding.