| |
See some of our collection at Ohio Memory, a collaborative project of the Ohio Historical Society and the State Library of Ohio.
Museum
Exhibits:
Outdoor
Exhibits:
Traveling
Exhibits:
|
|
 |
Exhibits
help tell the story behind the artifacts. Over 30 rooms cover
historical elements from the native people of Northwest Ohio,
the Black Swamp, Oil and Gas Boom, various clothing and decorating
styles, and trends in politics and government.
Traveling Exhibits also available for your institution.
|
|
|
ALUMNI ROOM, YEARBOOKS, and the 1950s SODA FOUNTAIN
Yearbooks, class photos, and high school mementos
of neighboring schools adorn these two exhibits. Very popular for class reunions, holidays,
and researching family genealogy. Photos date back to the 1920s.
The 1950s exhibit highlights school tokens surrounding a soda fountain from this iconic decade.
Looking for that yearbook, scrapbook, or photo? Try researching:
 |
|
ARTS & CRAFTS-ERA DECORATING
STYLES
Several exhibit rooms showcase a variety of decorating styles throughout the ages. The ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBIT is a sharp exhibit highlights the Arts & Crafts movement of the 1930s: clean lines, strong wood, natural color palette. It is in great contrast with the Victorian Parlor of the 1900s. |
|
BEAUTY & BARBER SHOP
To impair or improve? Some earlier versions of beauty products, including a 1947 permanent wave machine donated by Betty Lee Junkins, look more like torture treatments than beauty treatments. This exhibit, which is located in the former Infirmary barber shop area, showcases the barber shops and beauty rituals through the 1900s. |
 |
BOWLING GREEN 1913 TIME CAPSULE
The time capsule was uncovered in August, 2012, as workers were razing the former Central Administration Building on South Grove Street. Newspapers, photographs, and trinkets from 1913 were preserved inside a 12"x8"x4" tin box, and will now be on display at the Wood County Historical Museum, with a replicated traveling exhibit available to area schools. Bowling Green Mayor, Dick Edwards, was present at the opening of the time capsule: "As a history buff, I was eagerly awaiting the chance to see and feel the contents of the time capsule, ... (b)ut, the really big, fun moments at this special event were in the... expressions of the student participants and the one word heard most often was -- "Wow!"
Also available as a  |
 |
WOOD COUNTY'S ROLE in the CIVIL WAR: The Homestead
A poignant look at Wood County's men and their roles serving our county and country in the Civil War. Read excerpts from real letters written between the soldiers and their families still in Wood County.
Also available as a
Related Links:
• WOOD COUNTY'S ROLE in the Civil War Speakers' Bureau
• Civil War Cemeteries & Monuments in Wood County, Ohio
• Civil War Homestead Letters and Diary Excerpts |
|
4-H OF WOOD COUNTY
4-H is where many notable Wood Countians got their start. This exhibit features photographs and achievements of many 4-Hers.
More on the Wood
County 4-H Program and 4-H Club Info.
More on the Wood County 4-H Quilt Square Trail |
|
GENERAL
STORE
This exhibit replicates the classic general store
and all its amenities. |
|
GOVERNMENT
ROOM
One exhibit marks the history of Crime and Punishment
in Wood County, including the infamous Carl Bach trial and
the Mary Bach fingers. The second exhibit in this room showcases
political memorabilia from national and local campaigns.
Related Events:
• PRETTY BOY FLOYD Speakers' Bureau |
|
HANDS
ON HISTORY: This is the one exhibit where you can touch stuff! Exhibit includes working
telegraph equipment, a switchboard, plus a special exhibit:
I LOVE THE 80s: American Culture of the 1880s and 1980s
Put on your best pair of Calvin Kleins, hike up that Izod collar, and bring out your B.F.F. (best friend forever) to the Museum’s exhibit on the 80s - a reminiscent look at the 1980s and how it compares with the 1880s. Try your hand-eye skill with a real Atari game system or a Victorian-era parlor game. Can you solve Erno Rubik’s invention, the one that won the German Game of the Year Special Award for Best Puzzle in 1980?
"Museum takes look back to old days of 1980s: Technology, clothing, fads put in spotlight" Toledo Blade, April 25, 2012.
Got a HANDS-ON idea? Contact Michael McMaster,
Education Coordinator, education@woodcountyhistory.org or 419.352.0967. |
|
JOURNEY STORIES
AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2013
A Smithsonian traveling exhibit brought to Wood County by the Ohio Humanities Council and Museum on Main Street (MoMs)
[more] |
|
THE
HOMEMAKER'S GUIDE TO KITCHEN and LAUNDRY
The advancing technology in the kitchen and laundry
realms are astonishing! See how technology and marketing styles
changed from the early 1900s to present. |
|
MEDICAL
EXHIBIT
The County Infirmary served, in part, as a hospital
ward for the elderly and infirm. On display are medical implements
used throughout the 1900s. |
| |
MILITARY
EXHIBIT
This exhibit remembers the noble men and women who
have served for their country. Exhibit features uniforms, war memorabilia, and dozens of photographs from local families of service men and women past and present. |
|
NATIVE
INDIANS OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Long before
the draining of the Great Black Swamp, native men and women
made homes in the forests and swamps of Northwest Ohio. Tribes
such as the Ottawa, Shawnee, and Miami lived off the land, hunted
game with weapons made from vegetation and bones, developed
primitive tools, and practiced tribal rituals.
Made possible from a generous donation from John & Diane
Baer.
 |
| RESIDENTS
REMEMBERED
Nine Infirmary residents are showcased in this exhibit
which debuted at the 2004 Wood County Fair. A joint effort of
the Wood County Historical Society and the Wood County Chapter
of the Ohio Genealogical Society, each panel explains the myriad
of reasons that would necessitate people to become an Infirmary
resident. Disabilities, the Depression, and a series of misfortunes
may have brought them here, but you may be surprised at the
dynamics that followed.
Related Events:
• INFIRMARY HISTORY Speakers' Bureau
• RESIDENTS REMEMBERED Traveling Exhibit
|
|
VICTORIAN
PARLOR
Extravagant and elegant, view a traditional Victorian-age
parlor. Exhibit includes Victorian hair-art, a common tradition
of weaving human hair into a memorial piece of artwork, and
a pheasant hunted by Hollywood screen star Clark Gable. Compare with later decorating styles such as the Arts & Crafts movement of the 1930s. |
|
VICTORIAN'S
SECRET
Unfold
the Victorian's Secret in this captivating exhibit. Victorian
couture is easily recognizable, but this exhibit takes a more
intimate approach. Elaborate gowns required elaborate undergarments,
true, but the working Ohio farmer's wife had a few secrets
of her own. These textiles help us interpret sexual repression
of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, gender roles and power
structures through restrictive undergarments, and the differences
between varying socioeconomic groups.
Related Events:
•VICTORIAN'S SECRET Tours & Programs |
|
WOOD
COUNTY IN MOTION
Follow
the timeline of Northwest Ohio from the ice age through the
Great Black Swamp and into the Oil and Gas Boom that triggered
much of Wood County's wealth, as well as the Ghost Towns.
Related Events:
• LIFE IN THE GREAT BLACK SWAMP Speakers' Bureau |
|
WOOD COUNTY INFIRMARY: MEMORIES
OF THE COUNTY INFIRMARY
Visit rooms
that revisit life at the County Infirmary including the Front Porch, Parlor, Dining
Room, Infirmary Bedroom, One-room School, and Life at the Home.
|
EXHIBITS ON THE GROUNDS OF THE INFIRMARY
|
 |
PEST (PESTILENCE)
HOUSE
The Pest House served as living quarters for men with
communicable diseases such as scarlet fever and influenza. Women
with disease were kept in the main building. The Pest House was remodeled in 2012 with a new foundation and roof, and repairs on the walls, floors, and door. Inside, visitors will see an Iron Lung and other items reminiscent of early medical history. |
|
HOG
BARN
The Hog Barn was built in 1913 and used to breed and
house the hogs raised by the Infirmary for food. It was built
using bricks from the demolished Corril House on W. Wooster
Street in nearby Bowling Green. |
|
THE ICE HOUSE
The original Infirmary Ice House, built of materials from the old county jail, still stands on the site, but now it keeps cool an exhibit about its history. Before the days of electric refrigeration, the Ice House served as a receptacle for ice blocks harvested from the nearby ponds, which preserved the meat and canned goods used to feed the Infirmary residents. A small-scale model of the Ice House, handmade by Historical Society member Herman Aufdencamp, is also on display. |
|
THE CORN BARN / HORSE BARN
One of the Infirmary's original structures, the barn houses many of the Infirmary's pre-mechanized farm implements. |
|
MENTAL
HEALTH THROUGH THE AGES
The Lunatic
Asylum, on the site of the former County Infirmary, once was a haven for the mentally
ill. Today, a poignant exhibit outlines the development of mental health practices. Each year, members of Wood County Mental Health Services compliment this exhibit with a special program and mini-exhibit.
Coming soon: "Chasing the White Rabbit: An Historical Look at American Mental Illness" |
|
THE OIL DERRICK & BOOMTOWN DISTRICT
The discovery of oil and natural gas put Wood County on the map! See a real oil derrick on the grounds. During special events, licensed operators run the steam engine and the blacksmith demonstrates metals. A Log Cabin is open at special events for reenactments and demonstration.
More oil & gas sources:
Oil & Gas Museum, West Virginia |
TRAVELING EXHIBITS
Available Upon Request |
 |
BEHIND FENCES: LIFE AT THE WOOD COUNTY INFIRMARY
Built as a companion piece to the Smithsonian's Between Fences, our local exhibit looks at fences and boundaries, both physical and figurative, at the Wood County Infirmary. In the forefront is the Brandeberry Wall that surrounds the grounds still today, as well as the perceived fences between Infirmary residents and the community.
This exhibit was developed as a partner to BETWEEN FENCES from Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. |
|
OAK
GROVE CEMETERY
Which Bowling Green tailor provided lumber to the city’s
booming glass industry and downtown businesses? Which community-minded
women were instrumental in the development of Bowling Green’s
first Library and Hospital? Why would a professor eat makeshift
tomato soup from ketchup and hot water, and then leave his entire
estate to the University to benefit future students? These four
people, among 17 others, left their mark on the City of Bowling
Green, and are now remembered in the Oak Grove Cemetery Living
History Exhibit. This exhibit was done as a partnership between the Wood County Genealogical Society and the Wood County Historical Society.The
Oak Grove Cemetery Book, published by the Genealogical Society,
is now available.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967. |
|
WOOD COUNTY FAIR
The first Wood County Fair was held in 1851 in a grove of trees on Wooster Street (near the present City Building), but has grown into a week-long tradition of music, animals, exhibits, rides, and food. This exhibit traces the history of the many Wood County Fairs, including its demise in 1927 and its revival in the 1950s. This exhibit was done as a partnership between the Wood County Genealogical Society and the Wood County Historical Society.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967. |
|
WOOD COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME
From dependent to dependable, the Wood County Children's Home served youth in need from 1908 to 1959. The original home, as well as the stately institution, both which are still visible in Bowling Green today, are a testament to the County's duty to social welfare. Watched over for many years by superintendent Nellie Repass, the children that resided in the home share their stories. Whether unruly or unfortunate, the Children's Home helped many families stay strong. This exhibit was done as a partnership between the Wood County Genealogical Society and the Wood County Historical Society.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967. |
|
RESIDENTS
REMEMBERED
Nine Infirmary residents are showcased in this exhibit
which debuted at the 2004 Wood County Fair. A joint effort of
the Wood County Historical Society and the Wood County Chapter
of the Ohio Genealogical Society, each panel explains the myriad
of reasons that would necessitate people to become an Infirmary
resident. Disabilities, the Depression, and a series of misfortunes
may have brought them here, but you may be surprised at the
dynamics that followed. This exhibit was done as a partnership between the Wood County Genealogical Society and the Wood County Historical Society.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967.
|
|
NORTHWEST OHIO FOODWAYS TRADITIONS
The foods of Northwest Ohio may not seem particularly interesting at first, but a closer look reveals a deep-rooted history of German ancestry, Mexican influence, and pioneer struggles. This exhibit was funded by a Partnership for Community Action grant as a dual project between the Wood County Historical Society and the foodways studies of Dr. Lucy Long, department of American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967.
 Learn more about the Smithsonian KEY INGREDIENTS: AMERICA BY FOOD exhibit that launched our Northwest Ohio Foodways projects.
More about Ohio Foodways and the Center for Food and Culture.
|
|
THE GRANGE
Formally known as the PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, the Grange was founded by Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley in 1867. Organized as a "farm-friendly fraternity," the Grange offered social and community rewards to benefit rural life. Today, the Grange is still active across the United States, with 33 Granges in Wood County, Ohio. Under the direction of Floyd LeGalley, Ralph Seiler, and Ralph Brandeberry, the Grange Building at the Wood County Fairgrounds still honors agricultural pride in Northwest Ohio. This exhibit was done as a partnership between the Wood County Genealogical Society and the Wood County Historical Society.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967. |
 |
CENTURY FARMS AND WOOD COUNTY BARNS
This exhibit showcases century farms in Wood County - properties that have remained in one family for over 100 years. Assistance provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Photos, paintings, drawings, and memorabilia of Wood County barns brought a personal touch to this landmark accomplishment. This exhibit was done as a partnership between the Wood County Genealogical Society and the Wood County Historical Society.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967.
 More about Century Farms at OurOhio.org
|
 |
WOOD COUNTY'S ROLE in the CIVIL WAR
A poignant look at Wood County's men and their roles serving our county and country in the Civil War.
If
you would like this traveling exhibit, please contact Kelli
at 419.352.0967.
Related Links:
• WOOD COUNTY'S ROLE in the Civil War Speakers' Bureau Presentation
• Civil War Cemeteries & Monuments in Wood County, Ohio
• WOOD COUNTY'S ROLE in the Civil War Museum Exhibit
|
|
|
