November 2010

The museum provides programs for adults, students, and families that encourage them to actively participate in learning about the history of the community. Through the museum’s annual program schedule, visitors can tour historic areas of the community, listen to local authors and historians discuss local history, and participate in activities that promote an appreciation for the community’s heritage. The museum features a variety of unique exhibits, including a mechanical talking crow named Pete. Prominent individuals form the county, such as William Goebel, and Hugo Hassloch, are also actively portrayed in the museum.

Fort Boonesborough has been reconstructed as a working fort complete with cabins, blockhouses and furnishings. Resident artisans perform craft demonstrations and give modern-day visitors a true sense of what life was like for pioneers in Kentucky.

The Frazier museum contains unique artifacts including the ceremonial sword of Founding Father Josiah Bartlett, the family bible of the legendary pioneer Daniel Boone, and the original "Big Stick" of President Theodore Roosevelt. Each day, different presentations and events are held within the museum. The museum's second floor houses the permanent collection of arms and related artifacts made between the 16th and 20th century, mostly of American origin. The third floor houses the Royal Armouries Collection. Visitors can trace the history of Britain’s Royal Armouries (including the famous Tower of London) and European arms dating back to the 11th century in a series of periodically changing displays.

The house was built for Theophilus Conrad, a Frenchman who made his fortune in the tanning business. After his death in 1905, the Caldwell family purchased the home. This residence has operated under several other established organizations, and now is open as a museum. Visitors are invited to explore the house filled with breathtaking woodwork, stained glass, and fixtures. Surrounding the home, gargoyles, swags, massive arches and fleur-de-lis encompass the area.

The three story, red brick Italianate-style home is furnished in a Victorian interior, and has remained virtually untouched since that era. The Brennans occupied the home from 1884 to 1969, and it still contains an entirely original family collection. A 1912 doctor's office was attached to the right side of the home, which Dr. John Arvid Ochterlony Brennan used for his practice.

From 1920 until his death in 1980, Ben E. Clement accumulated what has become known as the largest and finest collection of fluorite specimens in the world. The museum is also equipped with other minerals and archeological specimens that he found all around the world.

Though the Pony Express only ran mail across the frontier for 18 months between 1860 and 1861, there remains immense popular interest in the history of the legendary postal service. The route that riders traveled stretched from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Due to the trip’s excessive length, riders would have to stop and pass their mail along to fresh riders at what were known as “home stations.” This Maryville building served as just such a home station. It was built in 1859 by Joseph Cottrell as stone barn, which today features a museum.

On display in the house are many wonderful examples of Mr. Barlow's varied and valued collections. Amidst the home's turn of the century architecture, visitors will find the World War I uniforms worn by Mr. Barlow, his scores of delicate China collectibles from around the world, the wedding gown worn by his mother in the late 1800s, and period furniture that had been meticulously restored to its original grandeur.

Family mementos are scattered throughout the home, including programs from turn of the century musical presentations, early family portraits, vintage personal items such as jewelry & accessories along with crystal and glass pieces of European origin.

Visitors are invited to tour the home which reflects the era of top hats and fans, graphophones, lavender scented sheets, elegant china and crystal, and button shoes. Tours center on events which took place in the lives of John Parker Smith and Nancy Bond Kevil Smith and their five children: Mayme, Kate, Shell, James Urey (Did) and Selina. This 1850s mansion, log house and gun shop are decorated according to periods in the Smith and Garrett families' lives.

New Harmony, Indiana, located on the banks of the Wabash River, is an experience like no other. A community that began almost two hundred years ahead of its time, New Harmony was first a spiritual sanctuary that later became a haven for international scientists, scholars, and educators who sought equality in communal living. Visitors to this State Historic Site will learn more about life at this Indiana settlement from the early 1800s through the 1940s.