It was established in 1965,[1] granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service in 1966 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1976.

The membership is approximately 180 electric railway devotees who reside throughout the United States and Canada, with the majority clustered in northeastern Ohio.

The mission of the Northern Ohio Railway Museum is to collect, preserve and maintain for study and exhibition streetcars, artifacts, mementos and assorted railway equipment related to the origin, development and use of transit equipment and operations in northern Ohio.

Properties consist of two miles of former Cleveland and Southwestern interurban right of way and a 30 acres (12 ha) adjacent parcel for the carbarns, yards and visitor facilities.

On this site the museum is collecting, preserving, restoring, displaying and will eventually be operating streetcars and other railway equipment for use by the public.

In 2000, the Rowen S. Prunkard Maintenance Facility was erected to house the fleet of internal combustion work equipment.