08
Nov
2025

WCHS Annual Meeting of the Membership

11-08-2025 6:00 pm

Our annual meeting for our membership to join us in celebrating the year past and to elect new board members.

If you're able to attend, the meeting will be held at The Depot Railroad Museum and will begin at 6PM. Doors will open around 5:30PM for members who wish to submit ballots a little early. The meeting will begin with a look back on the past year's activities, as well as our exciting plans for the future. Afterwards we will have the voting for two board seats. While votes are tallied, dinner will be served with a special presentation by Roger Moon and Ron Prosser. They will be discussing their book on the letters of local World War II veterans. 

06
Dec
2025

The Depot Open House and Jim Smoak Concert

12-06-2025 1:00 pm -4:00 pm

Join us for the Annual Jim Smoak concert at the Depot beginning at 12:00pm (Music begins at 1:00pm) and ending at 4:00pm. This event is open to the public, and admission is just a donation. This also serves as a Christmas Open House at The Depot Railroad Museum.

12
Dec
2025

The Polar Express at the Depot

12-12-2025 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

Join us for the annual showing of The Polar Express at The Depot. This event is free to the public, but donations are appreciated. The movie starts at 7PM. Christmas pajamas are welcome!

10
Jan
2026

DNA Workshop with Garth Walters

01-10-2026

Join the Genealogy Club at the Stevens Memorial Museum Conference Room for a special meeting and DNA Workshop with genealogist Garth Walters. He will guide participants through the exciting world of genetic genealogy. Whether you're just beginning to explore DNA testing or you're seeking to interpret your results, this workshop will provide valuable tools and insights.

07
Feb
2026

Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living

02-07-2026

Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living Join us for an engaging workshop with professional genealogist Cheri Hudson Passey, who will present "Genealogy in Reverse: Finding the Living - A Practical Guide for All Genealogists."

In this session, you will learn how to research forward in time to identify and locate living descendants. This skill is crucial for:

- Reuniting family lines
- Organizing family reunions
- Donating heirlooms or photos to the right family branch
- Connecting DNA matches
- Completing lineage society applications

Whether you are trying to solve a mystery photo or reconnect a lost branch of your tree, this presentation will provide practical strategies and tools.

05
Mar
2026

IHS Traveling Exhibit - Hoosiers and their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition

03-05-2026 - 04-07-2026

IHS Traveling Exhibit - Hoosiers and their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition

March 5 through April 7, 2026

08
Oct
2026

IHS Traveling Exhibit - Going Pro: Basketball Origins in Indiana

10-08-2026 - 11-05-2026

IHS Traveling Exhibit - Going Pro: Basketball Origins in Indiana
October 8 through November 5, 2026

Photo of John Milton HayWho was John Hay?

Statesman, Author, Ambassador

John Hay was a great American statesman, diplomat, author and poet, whose political career spanned over 50 years.  He was born in a small brick home in Salem, Indiana, on October 8, 1838.

After John displayed considerable potential in his schooling, his Uncle Milton Hay, who was a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, took a special interest and sent him to Brown University, where he graduated in 1858. 

In 1860, when John Hay’s childhood friend, John Nicolay, was appointed Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign secretary, he was brought on board to assist with the enormous amount of correspondence. 

Hay grew to adore President Lincoln for his goodness, patience, understanding, sense of humor, humility, magnanimity, healthy skepticism, sense of justice, resilience and power, love of the common man and mystical patriotism. Many later noted that Lincoln too, loved Hay as a son and was very attached to him.

In 1903, after years of negotiating treaties, Hay successfully passed legislation that afforded the United States the opportunity to start construction on the Panama Canal. 

Brown University’s John Hay Library was named in his honor, as was the John Hay Air Base, in the Philippines and both his birth home, in Salem, Indiana and his summer estate, The Fells, in New Hampshire, have been historically conserved. 

John Hay Center Hours of Operation

Thursdays - 10:00am – 5:00pm
Fridays - 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturdays - 10:00am – 5:00pm

Tour Pricing

Self-Guided Tours

Adult (Age 18+) - Donation
Child (Age 6-17) - Donation

Guided Tours

Complete Comprehensive Tour
(Museum,Pioneer Village, The Depot)
Adult (Age 18+) - Tour Price  $20.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - Tour Price $10.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

Steven's Museum Guided Tour
(Approximate 2 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) -  Tour Price $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - Tour Price $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

Pioneer Village
(Approximate 1 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) - Tour Price $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

The Depot Railroad Museum
(Approximate 1 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) - $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

School Tours

Private & Public School Tours: $3.00 per student/parent (Teachers free & 10 student minimum)

Private Tours

Scheduled Private Tours (More than 5 Guests) (Minimum $50)

Additional Information

*All regular tours are free for Life Members
*Children under 5 are free

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