SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Onondaga Historical Association in Syracuse celebrated its grand re-opening Wednesday. The OHA re-opened after it was closed in April for renovations.

The $500,000 project included a facade restoration, interior improvements and the opening of a new store and three new exhibit galleries. Officials say the historical association plays an important role in the community.

"It helps to create our community identity. We're the ones who are collecting and preserving, storing, cataloguing, documenting, interpreting the history of Onondaga County for future generations so that they can study that," said OHA Executive Director Gregg Tripoli.

The three new exhibits at the OHA include one on the history of Onondaga County, one on the Civil War and an exhibit about sports.