WHITLEY COUNTY
HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Whitley County Historical Museum
The Whitley County Historical Museum is housed in the Columbia City, Indiana home of Thomas Riley Marshall, Indiana Governor and 28th Vice President of the United States. The Museum interprets not only the life of Thomas Marshall but also the great history of Whitley County and its peoples. The Museum complex consists of the Marshall House, an Annex, and an Outhouse. Guided tours, detailed exhibits, and informative programming help bring Whitley County history to life for our visitors. The Whitley County Historical Museum works in conjunction with the Whitley County Historical Society.
OUR MISSION: Here at the Whitley County Historical Museum, our mission is to instill in people an appreciation of the persons and events which have molded the Whitley County community; to collect, preserve, and offer historic artifacts and stories to the public through exhibits, publications, collaboration, research, and educational programs.
The entrance to the facility is now at the Research Center. For tours, see us in the Research Center.
​
​​Remote Research Services are available at the Whitley County Historical Museum. For research information, please call us.
Kroger Community Rewards Program
​
The Whitley County Historical Society has been an accepted organization for the Kroger Community Rewards Program! To Use the Kroger Community Rewards Program simply visit http://www.kroger.com. Once logged into your Kroger account, search for WHITLEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY either by name or GP137 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card. That's it! Now each time your shop you can help support the Whitley County Historical Society!Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
HEY KIDS! Do you love history? Stop by the Museum and join the Whitley County History Club!
Do you have a donation to send to the Whitley County Historical Museum? Please download, fill out and send this form along with your donation. Thank you! Click here for our
ITEM DONATION FORM
Upcoming Events & Information
museum hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Make a difference by donating to the Whitley County Historical Society.
​​​UPCOMING EVENTS
​
​​​May 30 - July 1, 2023 – Hoosiers and their Hooch - Perspectives on Prohibition, a Traveling Exhibit sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society.
​
Visitors will be taken through the rise and fall of prohibition in Indiana and throughout the entire country. The exhibit spans the dawn of the temperance movement of the 1900s, the roaring 1920s and the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment during the Great Depression.
The era’s conflicting cultures are demonstrated through colorful historic figures such as Edward S. Shumaker of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League, as well as the bootleggers, moonshiners and bathtub gin distillers who found their way around the law in Indiana. Guests can also take a look at how the prohibition movement is reflected in current issues.
​
September 1 - October 1, 2023 – Endangered Heritage - Traveling Exhibit sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society.
Endangered Heritage, a collections care advocacy exhibit, educates local communities and potential funders about the need for good collections stewardship and to encourage contributions for collections care. It also gives examples of the dangers to objects in collections and information about the collections care needs of Indiana’s organizations.
Endangered Heritage gives examples of some of the most common dangers to objects and documents in Hoosier history collections. The exhibit focuses on the needs of heritage collecting organizations for humidity and temperature controls, adequate storage, and funds to care for their collections. Fortunately, there are solutions to the problems facing Indiana’s heritage collections, and the exhibit suggests ways to help. Visitors to the exhibit will learn how they can assist in preserving Indiana’s history.
Ideas for use: A curriculum/program plan to educate your members and community about the causes of deterioration and how to care for personal collections is also included with the exhibit.
​
​​​​​​
