CLEVELAND, Ohio, October 1, 2026 – Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) is happy to announce that it is the recipient of a $750,000 National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund African American Civil Rights grant award for the rehabilitation of Shiloh Baptist Church. The three-year grant will enable the Restoration Society to continue to restore the Cleveland Civil Rights landmark. Shiloh moved into their current home at 5500 Scovill Avenue in 1926 and has since served Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. The church was founded in 1849 and is the oldest African American Baptist congregation in Cleveland.
Rehabilitation addresses structural damage to the grand portico; plaster repair due to water-driven deterioration; the addition of air conditioning for better climate control; and accessibility upgrades. The grant will also allow the National Register Nomination, first completed in 1982, to be updated to include the history of Shiloh Baptist Church and the congregation’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. The project is being managed by Cleveland Restoration Society, and work will be carried out by qualified preservation contractors.
Shiloh Baptist Church is very grateful to Congresswoman Shontel Brown for her leadership and support for the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund African American Civil Rights grant.