Our Mission

American Institutional Restoration (AIR) is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to preserving America’s medical and institutional history. AIR rescues, documents, researches, preserves, restores, and interprets historically significant artifacts, records, medical equipment, and related materials from hospitals and other American institutions. We believe every artifact can tell an important story of innovation, sacrifice, public service, and the people who helped shape our communities.

AIR’s current work focuses on responsible collections care, historical research, artifact documentation, preservation projects, educational materials, digital resources, and the development of online and future physical exhibitions. By transforming overlooked pieces of institutional history into accessible educational resources, AIR promotes learning, encourages appreciation for America’s medical heritage, and helps ensure that these stories remain available to future generations.

As part of its long-term vision, AIR hopes to develop paid employment and vocational-training opportunities connected to artifact restoration, collections management, archival preservation, museum operations, photography, exhibit preparation, research, administration, and related fields. These proposed opportunities would prioritize people who have experienced homelessness or housing instability and help participants develop practical skills, work experience, confidence, and pathways toward greater financial stability.

AIR’s employment and homelessness-support initiatives are not currently operating. They will remain on hold until AIR completes any necessary organizational amendments and obtains board approval, sufficient funding, staffing, insurance, policies, training capacity, partnerships, and other operational safeguards. AIR is not currently accepting participants or promising employment or support services through these proposed programs.

AIR believes the preservation of history can eventually create meaningful opportunities for people and communities. For now, donations and community support fund AIR’s active preservation, research, educational, collections-care, and organizational work. As AIR grows responsibly, its preserved artifacts may become both educational resources and foundations for future community opportunities.

American Institutional Restoration is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation preparing to apply for federal tax-exempt recognition under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). AIR’s federal tax-exempt status has not yet been approved. Contributions should not be represented as tax-deductible unless and until recognition is granted by the IRS.