Museums and Historical Sites

Wayne County will astonish you with its wide variety of museums. Kids will beg to see the real Egyptian mummies or a dinosaur skeleton. History buffs will be intrigued by wide-ranging transportation collections. Art lovers will be amazed by internationally acclaimed works. Don't miss the Levi Coffin House - named one of the top 25 historic sites in the nation by the History Channel!

Quilt square IconPhoto highlights from area museum collections.

Local

Art and Music

Gennett Walk of Fame and the Starr Piano Company - learn why Richmond, Indiana is referred to as "the cradle of recorded jazz"!

Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery

Richmond Art Museum - the only public art museum in the U.S. to be housed in an operating high school.

History

The Hagerstown Museum and Arts Place

Indiana Football Hall of Fame

Madonna of the Trail - one of 12 statues along U.S. 40 from Maryland to California.

Joseph Moore Museum - natural history museum, dinosaur and ancient mammal fossils, Egyptian mummy

Model T Ford Museum - Now open in their new location in the historic Richmond Depot District! In 2008, Wayne County hosted the T-Party, celebrating 100 years of the Model T.

Wayne County Historical Museum - Pioneer history, locally manufactured cars, Egyptian mummy. Cruise-in the 3rd Sunday of each summer month.

Historic Districts

"Millionaires Row"

Old Richmond Historic District

Railroad Depot Historic District

Starr Historic District

Historic Homes & Buildings

Clay Township Museum - beautiful Federal-style Stephen & Anna Elliott House (circa 1848)

Gaar Mansion - Tour a Victorian mansion with much of the original furnishings still intact.

Huddleston Farmhouse Inn Museum

Levi Coffin House - "Grand Central Station" of the Underground Railroad.

Salisbury Courthouse - the original log courthouse for Wayne County has been moved to Centerville and restored. Tours by appointment only, 765.855.5333.

Wayne County Courthouse

Wilbur Wright's Birthplace - in nearby Millville, IN

Nature

Hayes Arboretum - a "living history" museum. Nature center, hiking.

Whitewater Gorge Park - search for fossils.

Indiana and the Midwest

Art, Music and Culture

The Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

David Owsley Museum of Art - Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana

Dayton Art Institute - Dayton, Ohio

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art - Indianapolis, Indiana

Fort Wayne Museum of Art - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Indianapolis Museum of Art - Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana University Art Museum - Bloomington, Indiana

Mathers Museum of World Cultures - Bloomington, Indiana

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, Ohio

Toledo Museum of Art - Toledo, Ohio

For Children

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Indianapolis, Indiana

COSI - Center of Science and Industry - Columbus, Ohio

Muncie Children's Museum - Muncie, Indiana

History

Cincinnati Museum Center - Cincinnati, Ohio

Connor Prairie - Fishers, Indiana

CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center - Terre Haute, Indiana

The Field Museum of Natural History - Chicago, Illinois

Henry County Historical Society Museum - New Castle, Indiana, offering info on Hoosier Kitchen Cabinets, Genealogy library, and coverlet collection, and other artifacts.

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village - Dearborn, MI

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame - New Castle, Indiana

Indiana Historical Society - Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana Medical History Museum - Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana State Museum - Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana State Police Historical Center - Indianapolis, Indiana

Ohio Historical Society - Columbus, Ohio

Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago, Illinois

Pro Football Hall of Fame - Canton, Ohio

Historic Homes, Buildings and Sites

Barker Mansion - Michigan City, Indiana

Clifton Mill - one of the largest water powered grist mills still in existence, Clifton, Ohio.

Daniel Gebhart Tavern Museum - an 1811 Restored Log Tavern in Miamisburg, Ohio

Dayton Aviation Heritage Historic Park - Dayton, Ohio

President Benjamin Harrison's Home - Indianapolis, Indiana

Official Limberlost Historic Site |  Limberlost - home of Gene Stratton Porter | Gene Stratton-Porter Memorial Society, Limberlost North

Transportation

Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum - Auburn, Indiana

The Bicycle Museum of America - New Bremen, Ohio

Heston Steam Museum - rural LaPorte County, Indiana

Indiana National Road Association

French Lick Railway Museum - French Lick, Indiana

Indiana Transportation Museum - Noblesville, Indiana

Kokomo Automotive Museum - Kokomo, Indiana

National Model Aviation Museum - Muncie, Indiana

Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum - Wapakoneta, Ohio

Studebaker National Museum - South Bend, Indiana

U.S. Air Force Museum - Dayton, Ohio - Excellent museum on the history of flight, FREE admission.

Whitewater Canal - Metamora, Indiana. Includes a working grist mill, a 14 mile section of restored canal and the unique Duck Creek Aqueduct, a covered bridge that carries the canal 16 feet over Duck Creek.

Lists, Links and Databases

Historical Marker Searchable Database

Indiana Museums List

Indiana State Historic Sites

National

Smithsonian Institution

ArtCylopedia - a search engine for fine art.

Museum.com - a global museum project, information directly from the museums.

Museums & Learning - a guide to family visits by the U.S. Dept. of Education

Museums in the USA - Alphabetical listing

Museum Links by State

Museum Spot - info on museums around the world

Museum Stuff - locate museums of all types and in all locations.

Find a Museum - American Association of Museums

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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Did You Know?

Barry Manilow began his career playing piano at the Holiday Inn in Richmond, Indiana.