Welcome to Toledo's Attic!

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Last Updated: 21 February 2025

Toledo's Attic has reached 25 years in 2022! Since 1997, Toledo's Attic has been Toledo's and Northwest Ohio's virtual museum focusing on the region's commercial, industrial, and social history from the late 19th through the late 20th centuries. It began as a co-operative project led by the Department of History at The University of Toledo in 1997 and joined by the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, the Maumee Valley Historical Society, WGTE Public Media, and the Ward M. Canaday Center of the University of Toledo afterwards.  Today, it is a public digital history and storytelling project to connect visitors with the history of the city and surrounding communities.

Toledo's Attic has been completely redesigned, reorganized, and migrated to an updated content management system.  It features several original exhibits and galleries from the 1990s and now, there are 63 exhibits, over 4,000 images, and dozens of virtual tours using HistoryPin created over the past 25 years by professional historians, UT students, and other history enthusiasts in the Toledo and Northwest Ohio communities.  Use the menu above to view the exhibits, discover resources, interact on social media, or find out more about Toledo's Attic.

If you are interested, you can help: Here is how...

Current and recent projects on Toledo's Attic

Exhibit Timeline - NEW! Explore the history of Toledo and Northwest Ohio thorugh this timeline.

Toledo’s Attic: The Beginnings - A commemorative essay by Dr. Timothy Messer-Kruse (original project lead in 1997) on the 25th anniversary of the Toledo's Attic project.

1902 Walking Tour - an original Toledo's Attic project (from 1998) resurrected for new technology: Tour Downtown Toledo of 1902 using the Sanboanr maps and use the Google Street view links for present views.

...and at least a dozen other original Toledo's Attic exhibits were restored.  See Exhibits and Collections

The History of the Toledo and Lake Erie Boating and Fishing Association and The Middle Bass Club - A growing archive of social and commercial history in the Lake Erie region of Northwest Ohio

Passport project - in collaboation with the Northwest Ohio Cultural Heritage Group, a new resource has been added to raise interest in regional history and cultural heritage

Postcard Puzzles - an interactive feature engaging visitors with the large postcard collection on Toledo's Attic.  Viewing recommendation: use a larger screen (tablet, laptop, or desktop).  Viewing experience varies on smartphones...besides put it down while driving!