Explore History October 18 in the Champaign County Museum Crawl

Buy Tickets

Eight locations—including history museums, historic sites and an art gallery—in Champaign County are banding together to offer you a fun adventure to heighten your awareness and appreciation of local history and the people and events that have gone before us.

In the Champaign County Museum Crawl, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, you will trek at your own pace – in the order you choose – from one location to the next. At each stop, you’ll take time to explore and collect a sticker to add to your Museum Crawl Passport.

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].