01
Feb
2025

Journey Along the Blue River

02-01-2025 1:00 pm

President of the Historical Society of Harrison County, Karen Schwartz spent years studying the history of Blueriver, which has culminated in her book Journey Along Blurrier. Join us at The Depot to hear all about her travels and the way Blueriver has been an integral part of life in Southern Indiana.

Admission:
$10 WCHS Members
$12 non-members

04
Mar
2025

Genealogy Nights

03-04-2025 6:00 pm

Looking to do some research on your Washington County, Indiana ancestors but are unsure of where to start, or need a little help with a pesky line? Come to Genealogy Night at The John Hay Center! Our experienced staff will be present to give special hands-on assistance in starting your genealogy journey.

Admission:
1-Night - $15
All 4-Nights - $32 WCHS Members; $40 non-members

07
Mar
2025

2nd Annual Afternoon Tea with Guest Speaker Megan Smith

03-07-2025 1:00 pm

Join us for our second annual Afternoon Tea! This year we will have a stunning display of antique quilts and coverlets, and we will be joined by Megan Smith from the Indiana State Museum who will give a fascinating talk on historical textiles.

Be sure to book your spot ahead of time!

$15 WCHS Members
$18 non-members

07
Mar
2025

The True Story of the Underground Railroad

03-07-2025 6:00 pm

Historian Stephen Brown was tasked to do some special research on the Underground Railroad by the National Parks Service, what he found was a trove of surprising information that ultimately inspired his book A Promise Moon. Visit the Depot on Friday, March 7th to hear all about his findings and his book!

Admission:

$10 WCHS Members
$12 non-members
$2 for students

18
Mar
2025

Genealogy Nights

03-18-2025 6:00 pm

Looking to do some research on your Washington County, Indiana ancestors but are unsure of where to start, or need a little help with a pesky line? Come to Genealogy Night at The John Hay Center! Our experienced staff will be present to give special hands-on assistance in starting your genealogy journey.

Admission:
1-Night - $15
All 4-Nights - $32 WCHS Members; $40 non-members

01
Apr
2025

Genealogy Nights

04-01-2025 6:00 pm

Looking to do some research on your Washington County, Indiana ancestors but are unsure of where to start, or need a little help with a pesky line? Come to Genealogy Night at The John Hay Center! Our experienced staff will be present to give special hands-on assistance in starting your genealogy journey.

Admission:
1-Night - $15
All 4-Nights - $32 WCHS Members; $40 non-members

12
Apr
2025

Lunch’n’Learn - Community and Change with Mark Olesh

04-12-2025 11:30 am

Local teacher Mark Olesh is joining us yet again to share his exciting research. This time Mark has delved into the history of schools and school consolidation in Washington County! Ever wondered what happened to all our small rural schools? When did our three county schools open? This is the presentation that will explain it all!

Admission:
$10 WCHS Members
$12 non-members

15
Apr
2025

Genealogy Nights

04-15-2025 6:00 pm

Looking to do some research on your Washington County, Indiana ancestors but are unsure of where to start, or need a little help with a pesky line? Come to Genealogy Night at The John Hay Center! Our experienced staff will be present to give special hands-on assistance in starting your genealogy journey.

Admission:
1-Night - $15
All 4-Nights - $32 WCHS Members; $40 non-members

17
May
2025

Armed Forces Day & Special Military Exhibit

05-17-2025

Opening of temporary special military exhibit. Free museum admission for veterans and opportunity to share oral histories on our country’s conflicts.

06
Jun
2025

Death Traditions & Spiritualism with Guest Speaker Rhiannon Cizon

06-06-2025 6:00 pm

Help us welcome guest speaker Rhiannon Cizon who will be visiting us to give a special presentation on our traditions surrounding death and burial in the 1800s.

From mourning clothing to hair art, learn how we grew to handle death and grief.

Admission:

$15 WCHS Members
$18 non-members

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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