At Johnstown Historical Society, we don’t just study history. We build it together. Our projects engage the community to preserve the past, safeguard local treasures, and create connections for the future. Whether through volunteering, sharing your story, or giving financial support, every contribution helps keep our shared history alive.
Current Community Projects
Welcome to the heart of what’s happening in our community! This section highlights the projects we’re working on together. These initiatives celebrate our shared history, strengthen connections, and shape our future. We invite your participation, stories, and support. Explore what’s in progress, see how you can get involved, and help us keep our community vibrant, connected, and growing.
The Johnstown Breeze Digitization
Preserving the Past, Page by Page
The Johnstown Breeze has been a vital chronicle of our community’s stories, milestones, and everyday moments for decades. Through this exciting digitization project, we’re making these historic newspapers accessible to everyone; free, online, searchable, and preserved for future generations. By transforming fragile print editions into a digital archive, we’re not only safeguarding Johnstown’s rich heritage but also opening new doors for research, education, and connection. Join us in celebrating this effort to keep our town’s stories alive and within reach for all.
Annual Museum Display at the Library : Archive Spotlight
Bringing Pieces of the Past into the Heart of the Community
Each year, we bring a new piece of our community’s story to life through a special display at the local library, Glenn A Jones, M.D. Memorial Library. This collaborative project between the museum and the library features rotating exhibits that highlight local history, culture, and voices. It’s part of our efforts to make our shared heritage more accessible to the public. Stop by, explore, and discover something new each year!
September 2025 Library Display: The Johnstown Breeze Digitization Community Project
This September, our annual library exhibit shines a spotlight on local journalism and the importance of preserving our shared history. In partnership with The Johnstown Breeze newspaper, this year’s display explores the rich legacy of community news and features historic front pages, photographs, and stories that have kept Johnstown informed for generations.
This exhibit also launches our new fundraising campaign to support the digitization of The Johnstown Breeze. The community project aims to preserve decades of local newspapers for future generations. We’re actively seeking financial sponsors and community support to help bring this vital work to life. Please Connect With Us to become a sponsor or learn more.
Visit the exhibit at the local library throughout September to see what this project is all about, revisit key moments from our past, and discover how you can help us ensure that Johnstown’s story is never lost to time.
Getting To Know You
A Johnstown Community Memory Collection Project
Everyone has a story worth sharing. Getting to Know You is a collaborative project inviting community members to contribute personal memories, stories, reflections, photos, and artifacts that reveal who we are, where we’ve come from, and what connects us. Together, we’re building a living archive that celebrates identity, fosters connection, and strengthens community through the power of storytelling. Sharing your story is easy. Complete our online form today.
50th Anniversary Edition : A Tribute To Johnstown
Commemorating 50 Years of Growth, Community, and Resilience
Fifty years ago, A Tribute to Johnstown captured the spirit of our community as a heartfelt snapshot of the people and places that shaped Johnston’s identity. Now, as we mark this milestone 50th anniversary, we invite you to help us write the next chapter. Let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and preserve our shared story for generations to come.
Voices of Our Community
Oral Histories and Reflections from Community Members
Voices of Our Community is an oral history project dedicated to preserving the lived experiences of individuals across our town, capturing the memories, wisdom, and personal journeys that often go untold. Through one-on-one interviews, we’re creating a vibrant archive of voices that reflect the heart of our community representing its challenges, its triumphs, and its everyday moments. Join us in honoring the power of storytelling. One voice at a time.
Spanish Translations
Opening Doors to History Through Language Access
In an effort to make our museum more inclusive and welcoming to all visitors, we’re proud to launch a project to provide Spanish translations for all exhibit signage throughout the museum. This initiative reflects our commitment to accessibility, cultural inclusion, and meaningful engagement with our Spanish-speaking community. By offering bilingual signage, we aim to create a space where more voices feel seen, valued, and at home. It is our goal to ensure that everyone can fully experience and connect with the stories we share.
How You Can Help
Our community projects thrive with the support of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. Whether you can lend a hand, share your family’s history, or contribute financially, your involvement makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that our past continues to inspire the future.
We couldn’t do it without you! Here’s how you can jump in and be part of the fun:
Every hour volunteered, every story shared, and every dollar given strengthens our ability to protect and share the history that belongs to all of us.
Past Community Projects
Each project shares a story, and our historical society has helped bring many to life over the years. From hands-on preservation efforts to public exhibits, our community-driven initiatives have helped uncover, protect, and celebrate the rich history that defines our area. These projects reflect the power of local collaboration and the belief that history lives best when it’s shared. Take a look back at the work we’ve done together and the lasting impact it continues to make.
