Opening of Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic
2024-04-25 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County Museum wants to welcome everyone to the opening of Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. There will be a reception with food and drinks that is free to all. Come see photographs that depict the strength and tenacity of the American people through mass trials and tribulations.

Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic
2024-04-25 17:30 - 2024-07-21 17:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
Extended for two more weeks based on popularity!
Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic will highlight depression-era photographers from the Work Progress Administration’s (WPA) Farm Security Administration (FSA) program as well as contemporary photographers reacting to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This exhibition features photography from two times of national tragedy, comparing them while also engaging patrons with photography from regional sites throughout Ohio and the United States. A theme throughout is the resilience of the American people as they tackle the trials and tribulations placed before them.
Curated by Dr. Christine Fowler Shearer and Arnold Tunstall.
Depression Era Photographers: Esther Bubley, Jack Delano, Theodor Jung, Dorothea Lang, Russell Lee, Carl Mydans, Gordon Parks, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn, John Vachon, and Marion Post Wolcott.
Contemporary Photographers: Autumn Bland, Donald Black Jr., Angelo Merendino, Jane Alden Stevens, and Shane Wynn.

Mother and Daughter Tea at the MacDonell House
2024-05-04 13:00 - 15:00 | MacDonell House, 632 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
A Mother-Daughter Tea will be held at the MacDonell House on May 4, 2024 from 1:00-3:00 p.m., the doors will open at 1 p.m., in support of the Allen County Museum. Guests will enjoy time in the Victorian House and a special presentation. A scrumptious menu of both sweet and savory items will complement the tea selection.

Lecture: Mark Billingsley on WPA in Allen County
2024-05-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
Local Historian and Allen County Museum Docent, Mark Billingsley will be presenting a lecture on the WPA in Allen County.

This lecture is free to all.

Lecture: Dr. Christine Fowler-Shearer & Arnold Tunstall on Curating Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic
2024-06-13 18:00 - 19:00

Lecture: Dr. Leslie Heaphy Presents about The Great Depression
2024-06-29 14:00 - 15:00
The Allen County Museum is delighted to host Dr. Leslie Heaphy, Associate Professor of History at Kent State University, for a lecture on The Great Depression in Ohio. The presentation will be held June 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. in the museum. This lecture is being held in conjunction with the museum’s current temporary exhibition, Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic. Dr. Heaphy will give greater context to The Great Depression by looking at Ohio’s own history during the time period.

Inaugural Fundraiser Gala - Discovery of Decades: The Roaring Twenties
2024-07-11 18:30 - 22:00 | 518 N. Main St, Lima, OH, 45801, 518 N. Main St., Lima, OH, 45801
The Allen County Museum cordially invites one and all to its inaugural fundraiser gala, Discovery of Decades: The Roaring Twenties. The event will be speakeasy-themed with hors d’oeuvres, libations, dancing, entertainment, and a friendly wager or two. Old Louie’s Night Club at 518 N. Main St. will be the setting for this dapper occasion on July 11, 2024, starting at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy getting spiffy, having some hooch, and savoring the real McCoy while helping the museum raise funds to continue to bring note-worthy exhibitions and engaging programming to the community.
Tickets are available at Eventbrite or at the museum starting June 1, 2024. The event is limited to 125 tickets, so be sure to snag yours right away. Please consider making a donation if you cannot join us at the gala. Tickets will be available for $65 per person for members and $75 per person for non-members. Not a member? That’s okay! You can become a member on Eventbrite or at the museum while purchasing your tickets.
Step into the past with the Allen County Museum’s Gala, entertainment and fun will be the focus of the evening. From a backroom gambling hall to dancing along to some time-period appropriate jazz, come celebrate the iconic 1920s! Immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties, from flapper dresses to prohibition era cocktails. Enjoy the basket raffle, silent auction, and so much more! This unique event will transport you to the era of speakeasies and the Charleston dance. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to experience the culture and style of the 1920s. We look forward to seeing you at Old Louie’s Night Club for a night to remember!
Order Tickets

Sponsor

Thank you to our wonderful Sponsors:
Jazz Age Sponsor: Cenovus
Libation Sponsor: Nutrien
Charleston Sponsors: St. Ritas and First Financial Bank
Newsies Sponsor: Von’s Diamonds and Jewelry and Larry & Pat Huffman
Bees Knees Sponsors: State Farm Agent Shane Crites, E. S. Evans, Lima Pallet Company, Inc., Kier Apiary, and Ferguson Agency, LLC.
Flapper Sponsors: Tanya Rable-Collins, Wine Sellers

Life in America | The 1920s
2024-07-12 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
Fun Event for the Whole Family!

Come to the Allen County Museum to experience what it was like to live in the 1920s. On July 12th and 13th, from 1 to 4 p.m., enjoy hands-on activities like churning butter, making crafts, playing period games, and much more. Learn about 1920s culture, from what cars they drove to what music was popular. Stop by an all-ages speakeasy, no alcohol, of course, to learn about prohibition, though there is a password to find before entry. There will be a scavenger hunt to find 1920s objects in the museum’s collection, a one-room schoolhouse lesson, geology of the 1920s, and lots of other fun things to do!
There will be a few activities that only happen once or twice, so plan your visit with those in mind. Dance instructors from A Step Above Dance and Music Academy will teach the Charlston only on Saturday at 1:15 and 1:45 p.m. On both days at 2:45 p.m., there will be a black and white silent film accompanied by the museum’s 1920s organ. Likewise, at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, there will be a magic show.
Life in America: The Roaring 1920s will be fun for all ages and is a free event. Come and be with us on July 12th and 13th, from 1 to 4 p.m. to be transported to the ‘20s. Even visit the MacDonell House for free during the event!

Prof. Brit Rowe Presents on Women Artists at Bauhaus
2024-07-18 18:00 - 19:00
Professor Brit Rowe from Ohio Northern University will present a Museum Talk on the Women Artists at Bauhaus. Bauhaus was a German art school that ran from 1919 to 1933. The focus of the school was on making design functional and mass-produced. Unlike most art schools of the time, women were allowed to study at Bauhaus. However, the women who studied there were kept to more domestic or “feminine” arts, such as weaving, ceramics, textiles, etc. This museum talk will start the Allen County Museum’s lecture series on domestic arts and women, which will center on the exhibition Art of Domesticity, opening on August 15, 2024, at the museum.

The Art of Domesticity
2024-08-17 11:00 - 2024-11-10 16:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The decorative arts have long been part of the domestic environment. For centuries, a woman’s artistic talents were applied to projects that were deemed favorable to them—knitting, sewing, porcelain painting, and weaving—and that could be done within their home. The domestic environment has long been perceived as the proper place for women. It was the woman who decorated the home and created a space of sanctuary for the hard-working man who daily encountered the public space. In that sense, the domestic on display in this exhibition is both theenvironment and the object.
Today, female artists have turned those “domestic” skills into fine art. The five contemporary artists in this exhibition use traditional craft media to create works of art. They look beyond the idea of the domestic interior in some cases, and in other cases, they create large, intricate works of art out of materials once considered to be craft.

Lecture: Dr. David Strittmatter Presents on The Women's Building at the Chicago World's Fair
2024-08-29 18:00 - 19:00
*Image from the Library of Congress

Lecture: Dr. Kimberly Hamlin Presents on Women's Suffrage
2024-09-19 18:00 - 19:00

Art of Domesticity Artist Reception
2024-09-20 17:30 - 19:30
Immerse yourself in the transformative power of traditional craft media as we showcase the work of five groundbreaking female artists who have redefined domestic art. Experience how knitting, sewing, porcelain painting, and weaving have transcended their traditional roles to become innovative and compelling contemporary art. Enjoy meeting the artists, a tour of the gallery, and savor light refreshments.
Free event for all.

Creating "Women's Crafts" Together: Knitting and Crochet Workshop - Daytime
2024-09-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County staff and local artisans will lead this art workshop. Together, we will discuss the gender dynamics of decorative arts and crafts while creating our own artworks.
Beginners to advanced makers of each craft are welcome. The fee for each participant is $15.
This sign up is for the 1-3 p.m. workshop for Knitting and Crochet on September 25, 2024.
Registration closed for this event.

Creating "Women's Crafts" Together: Knitting and Crochet Workshop - Evening
2024-09-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
Cancelled
The Allen County staff and local artisans will lead this art workshop. Together, we will discuss the gender dynamics of decorative arts and crafts while creating our own artworks.
Beginners to advanced makers of each craft are welcome. The fee for each participant is $15.

Creating "Women's Crafts" Together: Ceramic Tile Painting Workshop - Daytime
2024-10-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County staff and local artisans will lead this art workshop. Together, we will discuss the gender dynamics of decorative arts and crafts while creating our own artworks.
Beginners to advanced makers of each craft are welcome. The fee for each participant is $15.
Event Canceled

Creating "Women's Crafts" Together: Ceramic Tile Painting Workshop - Evening
2024-10-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801

National Fossil Day
2024-10-05 13:30 - 16:30
National Fossil Day is a day of fun and learning for the whole family. This year’s theme is fossilized shells. Two professors from OSU Lima will lead an interactive presentation on fossilized shells at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. You can dig into the dig boxes and uncover your very own fossil, and learn more about how fossils are found worldwide. Enjoy other fossil-themed games and quizzes, too. Join the guided tours of the Allen County Museum’s Fossil Exhibition led by the professors at 2 and 4 p.m. It’s a day at the museum that promises both learning and a lot of fun with fossils!

Creating "Women's Crafts" Together: Cross Stitch and Embroidery Workshop - Daytime
2024-10-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County staff and local artisans will lead this art workshop. Together, we will discuss the gender dynamics of decorative arts and crafts while creating our own artworks.
Beginners to advanced makers of each craft are welcome. The fee for each participant is $15.
Closed Registration

Creating "Women's Crafts" Together: Cross Stitch and Embroidery Workshop - Evening
2024-10-09 17:00 - 19:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County staff and local artisans will lead this art workshop. Together, we will discuss the gender dynamics of decorative arts and crafts while creating our own artworks.
Beginners to advanced makers of each craft are welcome. The fee for each participant is $15.
Canceled

Night at the Museum
2024-10-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
Get ready for Night at the Museum, which will be fun for the whole family! Living history characters will be stationed throughout the museum, offering visitors a unique journey into history. Some of these historical characters will be from Allen County, while others will provide a broader historical context related to the museum’s exhibitions. Remember to dress up in your costume to fully immerse yourself in the fun! Bring the whole family to learn more about our history and get a prize or two.
$3 for children under 13 and $5 for adults.

Lecture: Jeannine Falino Presents "Anonymous No Longer"
2024-10-23 18:00 - 19:00
Independent curator, Jennine Falino will be delivering the last lecture in collaboration with the temporary exhibition The Art of Domesticity. Her expertise in decorative arts, modern craft, and design will provide a rich historical context to textiles and decorative arts, and she will discuss artifacts in The Art of Domesticity. The Allen County Museum cordially invites you to this special event, where you can gain insights from an expert about arts and crafts, as well as artifacts in our own collection.

Lecture: Hannah Bergstedt Presents "Six Women of the MacDonell House"
2024-11-23 14:00 - 15:00
This years newsletter articles have all been focused on the MacDonell House and the women who called it home. Come to this lecture to learn more about these interesting women from Allen County Museum employee Hannah Bergstedt.

52nd Annual Christmas Tree Festival
2024-12-04 10:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-05 10:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-06 10:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-08 12:00 - 17:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County Museum’s 52nd annual Christmas Tree Festival is Wednesday, December 4, 2024 thru Sunday December 8, 2024 from 10 AM to 5 PM with special hours on Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday 12 to 5 PM.
This glorious holiday tradition is a partnership between the Allen County Museum, Allen County Master Gardeners and the Johnny Appleseed Park District. It features more than 100 trees and wreaths decorated by local businesses and organizations. There are plenty of activities, including everyone’s favorite, Evergreen, the Talking Tree. Don’t miss learning about Christmas in Mexico in the Childrens Discovery Center either!
Continue the tradition and be sure to bring your family to visit this year’s Christmas Tree Festival!

52nd Annual Christmas Tree Festival
2024-12-07 10:00 - 17:00 | Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market Street, Lima, Ohio, 45801
The Allen County Museum’s 52nd annual Christmas Tree Festival is Wednesday, December 4, 2023 thru Sunday December 8, 2023 from 10 AM to 5 PM with special hours on Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday 12 to 5 PM.
This glorious holiday tradition is a partnership between the Allen County Museum, Allen County Master Gardeners and the Johnny Appleseed Park District. It features more than 100 trees and wreaths decorated by local businesses and organizations. There are plenty of activities, including everyone’s favorite, Evergreen, the Talking Tree. Don’t miss learning about Christmas in Mexico in the Childrens Discovery Center either!
Continue the tradition and be sure to bring your family to visit this year’s Christmas Tree Festival!

ACHS Annual Meeting & Museum Talk on "Noah's Ark"
2024-12-20 08:00 - 17:00
ACHS’s Annual Meeting will be held as well as a Museum Talk on Grosjean’s “Noah’s Ark” given by Rick Balbaugh, Mark Billingsley, and Herb Lauer. Likewise, the opening of the next temporary Curious By Nature: The Art of Charley and Edie Harper.
