Wayne County Historical Museum

Mission Statement: The Wayne County Historical Museum educates, promotes, collects, preserves, and interprets the rich heritage of Wayne County, Indiana and illustrates the county’s role in American and World Culture. Our Museum: Our museum is a unique showcase of Wayne County and world culture. Our founder, Julia Meek Gaar brought back items from her many world excursions to share with the children of Wayne County. From an Egyptian Mummy to cultural objects from Europe, Japan, and the Middle East and beyond, Your Wayne County Historical Museum can transport you to many times and places. As the museum’s first director, Mrs. Gaar collected objects that interpreted the vast history of Wayne County, and made important connections between Wayne County and the world at large. Comprised of eight buildings on a compact site, the museum is a unique repository of Wayne County history from early pioneer life through the industrial revolution into modern times. “This gem of a museum is like a miniature Smithsonian, NY Metropolitan, and Williamsburg all rolled into one.” Bruce Sampsell,(a former president of Fisher Price Toys) who was amazed at the scope and quality of the museum’s holdings”