02
Dec
2023

The Depot Open House and Jim Smoak Concert

12-02-2023 1:00 pm -4:00 pm

Annual Jim Smoak concert at the Depot beginning at 12PM and ending at 4PM. 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

08
Dec
2023

The Polar Express at the Depot

12-08-2023 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!

12
Dec
2023

WCHS Monthly Board Meeting

12-12-2023 6:00 pm

Monthly WCHS Board Meeting, the general meeting is open to the public as always, but the
executive meeting is closed. Begins at 6PM in the Stevens Museum Genealogical Library.

31
Dec
2023

Second Annual New Years Eve Party

12-31-2023 8:00 pm - 01-01-2024 1:00 am

Our second year of welcoming the New Year at the Depot! This event begins at 8PM and ends at 1PM. DJs, dancing, food, and fun are guaranteed! Ticket purchase is required for this event. More information on this event and tickets will become available closer to the event date.

09
Jan
2024

WCHS Monthly Board Meeting

01-09-2024 6:00 pm

Monthly WCHS Board Meeting, the general meeting is open to the public as always, but the
executive meeting is closed. Begins at 6PM in the Stevens Museum Genealogical Library.

03
Feb
2024

Movie Night at The Depot - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court 

02-03-2024 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

Join us for a showing of  “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”  This is the first of three eclipse themed movies to celebrate the upcoming Solar Eclipse. Film will be free to the public, donations are appreciated. The film is set to start at 7PM at the Depot.

13
Feb
2024

WCHS Monthly Board Meeting

02-13-2024 6:00 pm

Monthly WCHS Board Meeting, the general meeting is open to the public as always, but the
executive meeting is closed. Begins at 6PM in the Stevens Museum Genealogical Library.

02
Mar
2024

Movie Night at The Depot - Watcher in the Woods

03-02-2024 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

Join us for a showing of “Watcher in the Woods” The second of our eclipse themed movies. Film will be free to the public, donations appreciated. The film is set to start at 7PM at the Amphitheater. If weather doesn’t permit, the film will be shown at The Depot.

12
Mar
2024

WCHS Monthly Board Meeting

03-12-2024 6:00 pm

Monthly WCHS Board Meeting, the general meeting is open to the public as always, but the
executive meeting is closed. Begins at 6PM in the Stevens Museum Genealogical Library.

05
Apr
2024

Campfire Stories - Wiener Roast and S’Mores in the Pioneer Village

04-05-2024 5:00 pm -8:00 pm

Join us on April 5th for an evening of Campfire Stories - Wiener Roast and S’mores - Event to be held 5-8PM in the Pioneer Village Common Area. Details TBA.

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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