“My Favorite Historic Place in Indiana”

Fourth Grade Student Essay Competition

The Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology

is sponsoring an essay competition to celebrate Indiana’s

great and interesting historic sites.

Competition Rules:

• The competition is open to any Indiana 4^th grade public, private, or home school student.
• Essays need to range from 100 to 400 words, handwritten or typed.
• Essays must include student’s name, teacher’s name, and the school’s name, address, telephone number, and email address.
• Essays should tell about a historic place (50 years old or older) in Indiana and why it is his/her favorite historic place.
• Essays must be submitted by April 30, 2010.
• Send essays to:

• Judges will choose first, second, and third place winners.

The first place winner’s essay will be printed in

the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology’s

newsletter Preserving Indiana.

For more information about the contest call 317-234-1268.

Collection of Lincoln Paintings Coming to Wabash

 “It’s time to share the secret,” says Tracy Stewart, Executive Director of the Wabash County Historical Museum.  Stewart and Carol McDonald, President of The Woman’s Club House, announce a new temporary exhibit, opening at the museum on February 12, 2009, and co-sponsored by the two organizations.

Entitled “Portraits of Lincoln:  The Lang Collection,” the exhibit is an important collection of paintings and sculptures of Abraham Lincoln.  In addition, the collection includes other Civil War-related artifacts owned by private collector, Robert Lang, Wisconsin.  The showpiece of the collection is a small writing table, used at the signing of the surrender of Lee’s troops at Appomattox. 

When Grant and Lee met at a private home in Appomattox, Virginia, to discuss the terms of surrender, they both had small tables they used to sign the document.  (The table Lee used is now in the American History Museum, in Washington, DC.) and the one Grant used is in the Smithsonian’s.

The table to be displayed at the county museum was used by Col. Eli Parker, to copy out the terms to which the two generals had agreed.  Because everyone in attendance realized the signing meant the end of the war, many of the items in the house were either purchased or stolen by those present to keep as mementos of the historic event. 

The table Col. Parker used made its way into the private collection of Gideon Welles, Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy.   There it stayed until a grandson of Welles sold it at auction to Dan Weinberg of the Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago, Illinois.  Weinberg eventually sold the table to Lang.

Other pieces in the exhibit include a diary written by an army doctor who was with the troops at Appomattox as the surrender was being negotiated and signed.  His poignant writing tells of the soldiers’ feelings regarding events unfolding around them.

 “This exhibit has been planned since long before the museum opened its doors,” said Stewart.  “Mr. Lang generously offered to loan it to the museum in honor of his friend and member of our board of directors, William P. Stouffer.”

The exhibit, which opens on the 200^th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, coincides with a nationwide celebration of the bicentennial.  Events will be held throughout 2009 around the country, especially in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Washington, D.C., all places where Lincoln lived. 

“Because of competition between museums for all things Lincoln-related, we had to keep the exhibit under wraps,” said Stewart.  ”We are planning several speakers and other historical-themed events during the time this great exhibit is in Wabash County.”
McDonald added, “We are proud to be a part of bringing this historic exhibit to Wabash County.”

The exhibit will run from February 12 to July 4, 2009. 

Board of Directors to Match All Gifts to Annual Fund Drive
October 8, 2008

As the Wabash County Historical Museum celebrates the second anniversary of its opening, members of the board of directors have announced they will match, dollar for dollar, all gifts received from now until December 31, 2008. 

“Visitors often ask us how we paid for such a spectacular museum,” said James Ridenour, president of the board of directors.  “And the answer is that the funds have come in small and large gifts given by individuals, families, businesses, and foundations.  They have stepped up to the plate and given the dollars that make this museum the pride of county historical museums in the Midwest.”

The museum, which receives approximately $12,000 per year in county funds, receives no other government funding.  “We continue to pay off over $1,000,000 in construction loans on the building and exhibits, and have on-going daily operational costs of keeping our magnificent museum open to the public,” said Ridenour.  “As with any museum, admission fees cover only a small part of the costs.  So whether we raise $500 or $500,000, the Board will match every dollar.”

            The museum, which opened on September 17, 2006, recently completed a conservation project on one of its most treasured artifacts, the Frances Slocum garment.  “We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished with the help of our donors,” said Tracy Stewart, executive director.   “It’s a great example of what we can do when we have the funding!  I encourage anyone who is interested in preserving Wabash County history to donate to the annual fund drive. ”

In addition to the exhibits, the museum has several on-going programs, including the History Hunters lunchtime speakers and Family Fun Days.  The changing exhibit gallery has featured seven major exhibits since the museum’s opening, including the latest—a display of Indiana Impressionist Homer Davisson’s paintings.

“I won’t let the cat out of the bag yet, but Wabash County residents will be amazed at the exhibit that opens in February 2009,” said Stewart. 

“There are so many things we have planned, including an audio tour of the museum, and of course, it all takes money.  But when I see how energized people are—especially children—after they’ve come through the museum, I know that there is a real appreciation of what we’re doing and that we are adding value to Wabash County.”

To donate to the museum’s annual fund, send checks or money orders payable to the Wabash County Historical Museum to 36 E. Market Street,Wabash, IN 46992.  To use a credit card, call Tracy Stewart at 260-563-9070.

This website is made possible by the generous donation of David & Jane Grandstaff,
“In memory of our son, Jeff, who would have loved this!”