The Work
The Cincinnati Railroad Club is trying to save some of the Cincinnati area’s richest history for future generations – making it available for enjoyment and research – through the Cincinnati Rail History Preservation Project. Over 70,000 items are currently in the collection – Union Terminal construction blueprints & photographs, railroad stock certificates, timetables, rare books & maps, photographic negatives, newsletters, periodicals and 3-dimensional railroad artifacts. Most is source material from the 7 major railroads that served Cincinnati and the construction and operation of the Cincinnati Union Terminal. The collection continues to grow through donations and estate gifts. Nearly all of the items are languishing in crates, boxes and file cabinets inaccessible to researchers and the general public, and virtually none are stored in a conservation-friendly environment. Some of the more fragile items in the collection are already beginning to interact with destructive elements in the current storage environment and will literally disintegrate over time. In addition to items that were professionally produced on unstable media, the collection includes one-of-a-kind prints and negatives that were made by amateurs, which are more vulnerable due to technical limitations at the time of production. If we don’t begin the conservation process immediately, this part of our vibrant history will be destroyed by time, the elements, and ultimately – our inaction.
Benefits of Giving
You’ll be preserving vital area history for future generations – and we feel that you deserve recognition for your efforts. We’ve outlined some guidelines for gift levels below, but please feel free to give a gift that’s meaningful to you. We’re happy to offer donor benefits, even if giving is naturally its own reward.
Coach Class $25
Donors will be recognized on the Cincinnati Rail History Preservation Project web site.
Lunch Counter $50
Donors will receive the above, plus an official CRRC bumper sticker.
Parlor Class $100
Donors will receive all of the above, plus recognition in the next printed issue of Headlights & Markers.
Club Car $250
Donors will receive all of the above, plus an official CRRC T-shirt.
Observation Class $1,000
Donors will receive all of the above, plus recognition in 4 issues of Headlights & Markers.
Dome Observation Class $2,500
Donors will receive all of the above, plus recognition in Headlights & Markers for the lifetime of the publication.
Dining Car $5,000
Donors will receive all of the above, plus on-site recognition in Tower A at Union Terminal.
Sleeper Class $10,000 and above
Donors will receive all of the above, plus a limited edition commemorative gift.
Private Cars Substantial individual and corporate gifts that exceed the mentioned amounts will be recognized by the collection sponsored, where appropriate – including naming rights online and in Tower A at Union Terminal. Individual items within sponsored collections will also be identified with their respective donors/sponsors.
Sponsor organizations will have the opportunity to host an exhibit from that collection at their own expense.
To participate, you can mail a donation to:
Cincinnati Rail History Preservation Project
P.O. Box 14157
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0157
Or – simply make your simple and secure PayPal donation here.
To receive your thank-you items, please make sure you provide your current mailing address; if you would prefer your entire donation be used for the project, leave that area blank.
