If you are a researcher, genealogist or just love geography and history, this is a program that you do not want to miss. It will intrigue the listener to hear of many unknown facts regarding counties within the U.S., specifically, here in Indiana. County and equivalent development and their history can be so different. Knowing boundaries and county changes are, also, helpful to researchers.

Michael Maben, the presenter, recently retired from 35 years as the cataloging librarian at the Indiana University Bloomington Jerome Law Library. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Portland State University (Portland, Oregon) and his master’s degree in library science from the University of Washington (Seattle, Washington).

He served on the Indiana Genealogical Society board for 22 years, with 10 years as President. He has had many professional positions, has published, presented, contributed nationally, regionally and has received many prestigious awards, among them the Renee D. Chapman Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions in Technical Services Law Librarianship in July, 2020.

Admission is FREE for members of the Vigo County History Center. Admission for non-members can be purchased at the History Center or on the History Center website.

Save the Date for the History Center’s Annual fundraising event, A Night at the Museum!

Event details are coming soon!

Want to purchase tickets now?! Click here!

Tickets:

• $50 (History Center members)

• $65 (non members)

Before the festivities start for this years Indiana State University Homecoming, join ISU History Professor Dan Clark for a look at the early evolution of homecoming at ISU.

This event will include pictures of parades and descriptions of related activities such as dances and freshmen-sophomore "rushes" (essentially organized brawls), all in an effort to create a collegiate feel on campus, including an outline of how these early traditions evolved into the event we know today.

Admission is FREE for members of the Vigo County History Center. Admission for non-members can be purchased at the History Center or on the History Center website under the “tickets” tab.

Join the Vigo County Time Travelers for October’s trip to Woodlawn Cemetery!

Established in 1839, it is the oldest cemetery still in existence in Terre Haute. While many of the city’s early prominent citizens buried here were reinterred to Highland Lawn, Woodlawn still has its stories to tell.

Learn more about its notable residents, which include Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, canal and railroad businessmen, and the town of Terre Haute’s very first mayor.

Time Travelers is FREE for members of Indiana Landmarks and/or the Vigo County History Center.

Additional attendees are asked to pay $7, which goes to future Time Travelers events and programming.

Admission for non-members can be purchased at the History Center or on the History Center website, www.vchsmuseum.org.

Second Saturday: Wabash Valley Scottish Society

Learn more about the Scottish Culture in a program presented by the Wabash Valley Scottish Society on Saturday, October 12 th , 10:30 AM, at the Vigo County History Center (VCHC) Auditorium. The auditorium is on the 3 rd floor and is elevator accessible.

Several members of the Scottish Society will present various cultural and traditional customs of Scotland. in the presentation. The Wabash Valley Scottish Society was founded in May 2003 for those in Vigo County, Indiana, and surrounding areas who desire to meet and share Scottish heritage, traditions, and interests. Richard Cooper, spokesman for the Society, states that one of the main goals of the Society is to provide both Cultural and Academic Scholarships to those who are interested in furthering their Scottish studies.

In addition, the Society is a place to have fun in sharing Scottish heritage, food and customs throughout the year through events and monthly meetings.

Admission is free to VCHC and OLLI members. Other admission is $7 for adults and $6 for seniors.

Unmasked is an art installation reimagining two historic exhibitions of anti-lynching art held in 1935. At the time, these displays advanced competing notions of critical, antiracist artwork. The installation combines historical artworks and ephemera with contemporary efforts to commemorate the victims of lynching in Indiana.

This memory work is crucial to community efforts advancing meaningful conversations about racial reconciliation, the emancipatory possibilities of restitution, and the creation of permanent memorials to the victims of white supremacy, in Indiana and elsewhere.

The goal of Unmasked is to use the legacy of the 1935 exhibits to provoke discussions about art and politics, the resurgence of hate crimes, and teaching tolerance.

Join us on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2pm for a presentation, “The George Ward Story” by historian Dr. Crystal Mikell Reynolds with special guest Ward’s Great-Grandson, Terry Ward.

Followed by the exhibit opening reception.

Light refreshments will be served in the Event Center on the 3rd floor of the History Center.

Melba Phillips: Physics, Gender, and the Bomb

During a “heroic age of physics,” Indiana physicist Dr. Melba Phillips published groundbreaking theories with her colleague J. Robert Oppenheimer. Despite her accomplishments, the press was more interested in whether a romantic relationship was sparking between the two scientists. In the wake of the atomic bomb, Phillips organized for the peaceful application of science, even coming to the attention of President Truman. But as fear spread during the McCarthy Era, she was persecuted for her support of free intellectual inquiry and was eventually hauled before a Senate subcommittee and fired from her university jobs. Undeterred, she went on to become a leader in physics education. Melba Phillips’ incredible life was one of moral courage with lessons applicable to today.

Jill Weiss Simins is a historian at the Indiana Historical Bureau (IHB), a division of the Indiana State Library, where she has worked since 2008. She is a founding organizer of the Hoosier Women at Work conference and producer of the award-winning podcast Talking Hoosier History. She writes regularly for the Indiana History Blog and is especially interested in immigration stories. Jill is a life-long Hoosier andholds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Ball State University and a M.A. in History from Indiana University. In 2021, she received two major awards: the Dorothy Riker Hoosier Historian Award from the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana University Graduate School Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award for the Humanities and Fine Arts. Jill is also a musician and lives in Indianapolis with her husband Russell Simins and a collection of way too many vinyl records.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Cozy up to September's Time Travelers event at the historic Goldsmith House!

Nestled within Terre Haute's Farrington's Grove Historic District, Goldsmith House is an Italianate-style home built 1876 by ice merchant Luther Hager. In 1907, it was purchased by its namesake Frederick Goldsmith, a wholesale grocer. In the 1950s, the house was converted and enlarged to function as a funeral home. Recently, it has been brought back to its previous 1907 size and converted into a bed-and-breakfast location, which opened for reservations earlier this year. (see more at their website - https://www.goldsmithhouse.com/)

Join us on September 3 to take in the Goldsmith House! Learn from its innkeeper, John Gedrick, on why he chose to save this historic Terre Haute building.

Time Travelers is FREE for members of Indiana Landmarks and/or the Vigo County History Center.

Additional attendees are asked to pay $7, which goes to future Time Travelers events and programming.

Admission for non-members can be purchased at the History Center or on the History Center website, www.vchsmuseum.org.

With the assistance of Cosmetologist, Barbara Barleston the Vigo County History Center will host a new display on the 2nd floor in the African American Experience Exhibit- from August 31, 2024, through the remainder of the year. 

Curator Suzy Quick explains, “This isn't just an exhibit about hair. It's about identity. And expression. It's about looking in the mirror and seeing generations of strength and beauty staring back at you. Throughout history, Black hair has been a source of empowerment for the African American community. This is a story that connects roots, and community.”

The display is a journey through the rich tapestry of Black hair-itage and history. It explores not only the evolution of Black hair through the decades but features a number of historically related artifacts. 

Join us for the exhibit opening, Saturday, August 31 at 1pm.

On Saturday, August 10 at 1:30pm, join the History Center for, "The Resurrectionists" presented by Carol and Frank Jarboe.

The Jarboes are professional reenactors, researchers, historians and educators who bring to life the unknown history that shaped the world. Resurrectionists provided bodies for doctors and medical students in order to study anatomy. The practice was common in the 1800's in England and the colonies.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Be our guest at the newest Time Travelers event at the historic Hotel Deming!

Constructed in 1914, the Hotel Deming is eight-story Renaissance Revival-style building featuring classical details with tile and terra cotta accents. Originally built with 250 hotel rooms and 200 baths, the building has been through many different uses including ISU student housing in the 1960s and most recently senior housing.

Newly rehabilitated and renamed, The Deming today is a mixed-use facility with 111 residential units and retail/commercial space.

Experience all the historical details still shining through at the Time Travelers Tour: Hotel Deming!

Free for History Center and Indiana Landmarks Members!

$7 for General Event Admission. Buy tickets online! (Ticket purchases are visible to event organizers. There is no need for physical tickets.)

Join the Vigo County History Center on Saturday, August 3, at 10:30am for "Tracking Wabash Valley Railroad History".

Presented by Larry Ratcliffe, retired railroad executive with 40 years in the industry and avid railroad historian. Attendees will learn the critical role Terre Haute played in the Midwest railroad network.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Join the Vigo County History Center for a special presentation featuring Polly Root Sturgeon, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Indiana Geological Survey.

Come learn about rock forms and how to identify the most common rocks below your feet in Indiana. Discover how rocks are used in everyday life and just what rocks have to do with dinosaur fossils in Indiana.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Vigo County History Center's Second Saturday program for July will be presented by Justin Clark and Emily McGuire, Indiana State Library Historians from the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis.

The program covers two websites that benefit genealogists, historians and researchers.  It is an Indiana digitization initiative of newspapers and historical events that cover Indiana counties and more.

Wabash Valley Visions and Voices, an Indiana State University historical preservation project had become part of Indiana Memory, since its dissolution after more than 10 years of existence with 21 Wabash Valley partners. Its digital collections were sent to Indiana Memory for sustaining historical and genealogical material that had been gathered, copied, metadated and preserved.

Hoosier State Chronicles, Indiana Newspaper Collection, contains 186,601 issues comprising 1,589,638 pages and 619,771 articles and represents every county in Indiana.

Even if you do not plan to do historical or genealogical research, the contents of both sites are a walk back in time and will guarantee "good reads" and insights.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Join the Vigo County History Center for the second annual Juneteenth Celebration.

View displays of historic black businesses, hear from local trailblazers and their families. Featuring Local Historian Dr. Crystal Reynolds, Community Activist Peggy Joyner, VCHC Board Member Dee Reed and more special guests.

Including children’s activities and giveaways (while supplies last).

Wednesday, June 19, the History Center will be open 10am to 5pm, with the program beginning at 1pm.

Join the Vigo County History Center and Time Travelers for a one-of-a-kind experience at the edge of the Wabash River!

This experience showcases the Wabash River and pays tribute to the state song composer, Paul Dresser. We will begin with a tour of the composer’s birthplace. Terre Haute native, musician Tommy Kelly will perform our state song, “On the Banks of the Wabash”. Participants will then do a walking tour of the river with Conservationist and photographer Brendan Kearns.

Free for History Center and Indiana Landmarks Members!

$7 for General Event Admission. Purchase tickets online by clicking here!

(online ticket sales are visible to our event organizers. You do not need physical tickets for this event.)

John Becker returns to the Vigo County History Center on Saturday, June 8 at 10:30 AM with another

great program on Vigo County Churches through his postcard collection. Illustrations of the postcards

will show the numerous ethnic and religious groups that settled in Vigo County. Many of the churches

exist, today; others do not.

John is an avid collector of art, books, documents and mailboxes among other items, such as his

postcard collections. A native of Terre Haute, he attained a BS in Chemistry form Rose-Hulman Institute

of Technology and an MS in Technology from ISU. John co-authored “Terre Haute and Vigo County in

Vintage Postcards” with Vigo County Historian and author, Dorothy Jerse. His passion for history

enables him to study and research his well-organized collections. John is always willing to share his

knowledge.

Join us in a vicarious journey through historical churches with John Becker.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Co-founder, Rick Voight, minus partner, Randy Fredlund, will be present to demonstrate the simple use of the Vivid Pix restore software and equipment.

It's as easy as 1-2-3. Vigo County History Center has acquired Vivid-Pix restore equipment and software for community use. The station will be able to digitize photos, documents and small artifacts. Rick will discuss photo reminisce therapy in dementia patients, how photos bring together young and old, how photos give grounding to younger generations and the importance of preserving and sharing your history for future generations.

Bring a photo, document or family heirloom.

Time Travelers Tour: The Indiana Theatre

Come take a peek behind the curtain at one of Terre Haute’s most architecturally dramatic landmarks in the Indiana Theatre. Opened in 1922 and designed by noted theatre designer John Eberson, it was one of Terre Haute’s leading performance venues through the first half of the 20th century. It hosted a wide variety of performances, including vaudeville shows, feature films, and live entertainment.

A National Register of Historic Places listing (1997), the theatre was recently acquired by the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board, which plans to rehabilitate the theatre for a vibrant future. Don’t miss this chance to see the building’s historic interior before rehabilitation begins!

Date: May 14, 2024, 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Address: 683 Ohio St, Terre Haute, IN 47807

Tour Details: The tour will begin in the front entrance lobby, which can be accessed from the main doors at the corner of 7th and Ohio.

Time Travelers is FREE for members of Indiana Landmarks and/or the Vigo County History Center.

Additional attendees are asked to pay $7, which goes to future Time Travelers events and programming.

Admission for non-members can be purchased at the History Center or online.

Learn the background of Bruce Rosselli, Terre Haute native and Olympian! Bruce will tell his personal story of how he accomplished success in Terre Haute as well as world-wide. Though he is known for his triumphs in the Olympics, he has gained success in many aspects of business and sports and served in many notable local and international positions. This family program is one you won't want to miss!

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

If you are a beginning or an experienced family history researcher, you will benefit from this workshop.

Join us for, LAUNCHING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY, Saturday, April 6, at 10:30, at the Vigo County History Center Auditorium.

Pre-registration is required for lunch by Petty Pit Stop lunch (choice of sandwich or salad, apple pie blondie and a drink for $12. Deadline March 29.)

Reservations can be made at the Vigo County History Center or call (812) 235-9717.

Registration deadline without lunch is April 6. Space is limited!

Four programs covering initial smart choices for family history research will be presented and discussed by seven experienced genealogists and family history researchers. Two are county genealogists for the Indiana State Historical Society. There will be a panel discussion after each session with Q & A.

Each patron receives a folder of family history research materials, a packet of useful materials from the Terre Haute Visitors Bureau and a chance for several prizes, two valued close to $100.

Registration cost for VCHC and OLLI Members, FREE! Seniors $6 and Adults $7.

Join us as we celebrate our Sister City, Tajimi Japan in this engaging event. We will also connect with our Sister City via Zoom!

This unique and free program will be filled with cultural insights, artistic elements, musical performance and meaningful connections.

The event will be hosted in the First Financial Auditorium on the 3rd Floor of the Vigo County History Center.

This event is FREE, but RSVPs are appreciated. Contact the History Center at (812) 235-9717.

The history and narratives surrounding the Interurban that traversed Vigo County and connected it to surrounding areas reveal interesting stories and facts. It was in existence of about four decades of the 20th century.

This rail system connected remote areas to more urban areas and enabled citizens to travel much more quickly and easily.

Jeff Koehler, who has a passion for history and, especially, local history concerning transportation involving canals, the Interurban and railroads is a scholar of historic modes of travel. His studies have lead him to unknown facts and stories surrounding each of these important methods of historic travel.

Jeff has been the Clay County historian for over 20 years and is Vice-President of the Clay County Historical Society and on the Board of Directors of the Canal Society of Indiana. He is a 5th generation farmer and life-long resident of Clay County.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Dr. Gary Ulrich, a Terre Hautean, earned his BS degree in Biology at Rose-Hulman (‘17) and his Medical Degree at IU School of Medicine (‘22). During medical training, he became an orthopedic research fellow at a program collaboratively based at the University of Oxford and University of Leeds in England. Most recently, he has been an orthopedic research fellow at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and is currently pursuing an orthopedic surgery residency position.

Dr. Ulrich's previous accomplishments include becoming an Eagle Scout, competing on the Rose-Hulman basketball team, co-founding his own local charity, "Trick Shots for Charity", and producing a documentary film on Indiana State All-American basketball player, Duane Klueh, entitled "Playing for Wooden".

This program relates to his experiences with Dr. Tom Catena, a dedicated American physician who lives and practices medicine in the war-torn Nuba Mountains of Sudan, Africa.

Just one day before his birthday, President Abe Lincoln will visit the Vigo County History Center!

Local reenactor Danny Russel with famoushoosiers.com, will feature Lincoln's legendary character strengths -- his honest nature, love of learning, mastery of language, respect for hard work, empathy for his fellow man, opposition to slavery and ability to lead.

A native of the Hoosier State, Lincoln lived his entire boyhood (age 7-21) in Spencer County where he lost his mother and sister, taught himself to read and learned the value of perseverance. From Indiana, he lived in Illinois for prairie lawyer years, life with Mary and sons, political aspirations and debates with Stephen Douglas prior to time in Washington. Hilarity, heartbreak, humanity and brilliant speeches abound from one of America's greatest presidents!

The Lost Creek Settlement was established in the early 1800’s, when a group of free Black Americans courageously traveled from Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia to settle in eastern Vigo county to escape the racial violence and systemic oppression of the pre-Civil War South. In spite of inequities and challenges they faced in Indiana, the people of Lost Creek demonstrated fortitude, grit, and resilience by creating a thriving farming community for
generations to come.

Presenter, Dee Reed, is a 25-year career veteran in higher education, recently retiring from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. During her tenure, she provided the strategic direction to advance inclusive and equitable work and learning environments. Additionally, she led the
development of the marketing and communications initiatives.

In retirement, Dee continues her commitment to community engagement as a way to make a lasting, positive impact in the
world. She applies her experience to the boards of several local organizations. These include Art Spaces, Lost Creek Restoration and Preservation Foundation, Second Missionary Baptist Church, Wabash Valley Community Foundation and the Vigo County History Center.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

“Pillars of the Community: Volume I,” is the new book by photographer Fran Lattanzio and historical writer Susan Tingley.

The book highlights architectural elements of Terre Haute homes that once belonged to both notable figures and residents.

Join us for a book signing and presentation by Lattanzio and Tingley. Books will be available for purchase.

Join the Vigo County History Center for the first speaker series of 2024!

The program, "Native American Code Talkers of WW I and WW II", is presented by Dr. William Meadows, professor of cultural and linguistic anthropology, archaeology, world cultures, ethnohistory and more.

Dr. Meadows has conducted research with many Native American Nations, as well as in Japan, and has carried out archaeological fieldwork in the Midwestern US. He currently teaches and is head of the Missouri State Native American Studies Committee.

He has written seven books and has testified before a Congressional Senate Hearing on the role of the role of Native American Code Talkers in the US armed forces. His testimony and research were seminal in the passage of the 2008 Code Talkers Recognition Act, which brought federal recognition and Congressional Gold and Silver Medals for all Native American Code Talkers.

Some of his other speaking venues include the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National WW I Museum, and the Army Historical Center.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.

Think you know Frank Capra’s classic film? Go behind the scenes on an illustrated journey through the film’s beginning – as a Christmas card! – to mixed reviews at the box office and then to its place as a beloved holiday classic. We’ll explore the cast, sets, technical challenges, and more including the film’s connection to a Disney Princess and how Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter) lost a bet with Donna Reed (Mary Hatch Bailey). Experience this classic like never before with behind-the-scenes photos and deleted scenes.

Presented by Jamie Poorman from the Marshall (IL) Public Library.

Admission is FREE for History Center members. General admission to the History Center is $7 for adults.