Museum Crawl Passports are on sale on the Champaign County Historical Society (CCHS) website here, and at the CCHS Museum, 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana. Cost is $10 for adults and youth, age 13 and up (free up to age 12). Once purchased, passports may be picked up on the day of the event, Oct. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at CCHS, or beginning at 10 a.m., at the Pony Wagon Museum and the 1858 Meeting House.

When you visit and collect passport stickers at five or more of the eight participating sites, you’ll be able to claim a commemorative Museum Crawl tote bag or drink bottle – a bonus to all the history you’ll discover.

The Museum Crawl will include:
• Champaign County Historical Society Museum, 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana: The Historical Society, founded in 1934, collects, preserves, and interprets relevant artifacts, documents, and other resources to educate current and future generations about Champaign County’s history. Explore collections in the museum and in digital archives on the CCHS website.

• Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum, 518 College Way, Urbana: Dedicated to uplifting the American folkloric figure of Johnny Appleseed and the true man behind the myth, John Chapman. Family-friendly and accessible. Includes a short outdoor walking path through the orchard and garden.

• 1858 Meeting House, 43 E. Sandusky St., Mechanicsburg: Formerly the Second Baptist Church, is the oldest standing public building in Mechanicsburg. The brick structure was built in 1858 by the Methodist Episcopal Church of Mechanicsburg, replacing the former building built in 1820. The building was acquired by the Champaign County Preservation Alliance in the 1990s to preserve and protect its future. An Underground Railroad exhibit, provided by the Mechanicsburg Public Library, will be on display in the Meeting House during the Museum Crawl.

• Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana: The first nature preserve in Ohio to be purchased with state funds, Cedar Bog is the most diverse site in the state for plant life. From local nature enthusiasts, lifelong learners, to passionate naturalists and experts in various fields, Cedar Bog Nature Preserve has something for everyone with our fully accessible education center and boardwalk.

• Champaign Aviation Museum, 1652 N. Main St., Urbana: Features restored World War II aircraft and artifacts, as well as educational information on the home front, 1940s manufacturing, and World War II veterans’ flight training and combat experiences. Also offers an opportunity to talk with and observe volunteers who are restoring the B-17 Champaign Lady to air worthiness at the museum.

• Grimes Flying Lab Museum, 1636 N. Main St., Urbana: Showcases the history of Warren Grimes and Grimes Manufacturing Company. Houses the Grimes Flying Lab Beech 18 aircraft.

• Pony Wagon Museum, 510 Washington St., St. Paris: Located in the original Pennsylvania freight house, the museum displays artifacts connected to the St. Paris area, including world-renowned Walborn & Riker Pony Wagons. Offers a scavenger hunt for younger visitors.

• Champaign County Arts Council, 119 Miami St., Urbana: Featuring Visions in Landscapes, a joint exhibit by local watercolor artist Rhonda Sloan and photographer Pete Dysinger

For more information, contact the CCHS Museum, 937-653-6721 or [email protected].

Mechanicsburg citizens revolted against the marshals. White was ultimately freed when Mechanicsburg residents agreed to purchase his freedom.

About the Champaign County Historical Society
The museum collects, preserves, and interprets artifacts, documents, and other resources from Champaign County to educate current and future generations about our history.

The museum has been located at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, since 1972. It recently reopened after being closed for a capital improvement project. Originally established in 1934, the CCHS Museum first housed its collection at the former location of the Champaign County Library on West Market Street, and then moved to the Nutwood Barn, south of Grimes Field on North Main Street.

The Historical Society is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

At the dinner you can place bids in a silent auction, to support the Historical Society. Auction items will include the creations of Oktoberfest craft vendors. Also during the evening, we’ll update you on the capital improvement project of the CCHS Museum and other plans for the upcoming year. 

About the Champaign County Historical Society
The Historical Society museum collects, preserves, and interprets artifacts, documents, and other resources from Champaign County to educate current and future generations about our history.

The museum has been located at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, since 1972. Originally established in 1934, the museum first housed its collection at the former location of the Champaign County Library on West Market Street, and then moved to the Nutwood Barn, south of Grimes Field on North Main Street.
The museum is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
Photo caption:
This photo, of the Indian Hunter sculpture at John Quincy Adams Ward’s Oak Dale Cemetery gravesite, is from the William “Bill” Whitman photography collection in the Champaign County Historical Society’s archives.  

To enable our staff and volunteers to move exhibits from the upstairs area, and to move the workspace upstairs, the museum will be closed starting December 11th. We will reopen on January 28, 2024, for our annual meeting.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this might cause and look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!

The annual Christmas dinner will be held Dec. 10, 2023, beginning with a social hour at 4:00 pm.  Dinner, catered by Amy Forest of In Good Taste Catering, will be served at 5:00 p.m. by the Girl Scout Troop #32191 and adviser, Ashley Skinner. The cost will be $20.00 per person paid in advance.
 
The social hour will offer beverages and a charcuterie service of assorted cheeses, veggies, and crackers. The meal will include brown sugar glazed spiral sliced ham, au gratin potatoes, green beans almondine, rolls, butter, and assorted small bite desserts. Beverages of water, tea and coffee will be available.
  
To ensure everyone can have a comfortable dining experience, we have a reservation limit of 60 people. The dinner is not limited to CCHS members. Feel free to invite your friends! Call the Museum, 937-653-6721, Mon – Fri 10-4 and Sat 10-2 to reserve your spot. (Reservations are not final until the money has been received.)
  
Holiday music, flickering candles, delicious food – who could ask for more! 

During the recent Antique Appraisal Fair at the Champaign County Historical Museum prizes were awarded for the “Most Unusual” and the “Most Valuable“ items submitted for appraisal.

The Champaign County Historical Society hosted a Picnic on the Lawn on August 28th. Attendees enjoyed summer breezes, live music, each other's company and a Sunday afternoon lunch of chicken salad on a croissant, baked beans, cookies, iced tea and lemonade catered by In Good Taste Catering. Pictures from the event are below. Click here to see our upcoming events!