13
Dec
2024

Annual Showing of The Polar Express

12-13-2024 7:00 pm

Can you hear the sleigh bells? Visit The Depot to find out with our annual showing of The Polar Express. There will be free popcorn, cookies, and treats.

Attendance is free but donations are accepted! Show begins at 7:00pm

 

04
Oct
2025

Old Settlers Days

10-04-2025 10:00 am
Stop by for a variety of sights at The John Hay Center from 10AM to 4PM on both Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th.
 
Enjoy taking a stroll through the Stevens Memorial Museum, Pioneer Village, John Hay Birthplace, and Depot Railroad Museum. Float around the grounds and see all the local craft vendors, and maybe pick up a spot of lunch too from the food vendors like the wonderful Canton Christian Church Ladies!
 
If you are a vendor interested in participating, or have any questions, feel free to contact the Old Settlers Days Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
We are so excited for everyone to celebrate Washington County history with us for yet another year!
05
Oct
2025

Old Settlers Days

10-05-2025 10:00 am
Stop by for a variety of sights at The John Hay Center from 10AM to 4PM on both Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th.
 
Enjoy taking a stroll through the Stevens Memorial Museum, Pioneer Village, John Hay Birthplace, and Depot Railroad Museum. Float around the grounds and see all the local craft vendors, and maybe pick up a spot of lunch too from the food vendors like the wonderful Canton Christian Church Ladies!
 
If you are a vendor interested in participating, or have any questions, feel free to contact the Old Settlers Days Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
We are so excited for everyone to celebrate Washington County history with us for yet another year!
25
Oct
2025

Boo Bash at the John Hay Center

10-25-2025 5:00 pm -6:30 pm

The Boo Bash will be held on October 25th from 5-6:30PM. Come in costume and treat or treat through the John Hay Center!

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!

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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