Allen County Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1908 |
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| Location | 620 West Market Street Lima, Ohio 45801 United States |
| Type | Children's Museum, History Museum |
The Allen County Museum is a large museum in Lima, Ohio. It's so big that it takes up half a city block! The museum isn't just one building. It also has a historic log house, a beautiful Victorian home called the MacDonell House, a real Shay Locomotive train engine, and even a Children's Discovery Center.
This museum is officially recognized for its high quality by the American Alliance of Museums. Out of thousands of museums in the United States, only a small number earn this special honor. This means the Allen County Museum is one of the best in the country.
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Museum History
The Allen County Historical Society, the group that runs the museum, started way back in 1908. At first, the museum was inside Lima's Memorial Hall. But the collection of interesting items grew so large that they ran out of space.
By 1935, a woman named Elizabeth M. MacDonell led a project to raise money for a brand-new museum building. World War II put their plans on hold for a while. Finally, in 1954, they laid the cornerstone for the new building. A cornerstone is a special stone placed in a building's foundation to mark its beginning. This one was extra special because it came from the original White House in Washington, D.C.!
Since then, the museum has collected many amazing items from the local area and around the world. It has a huge collection of documents and blueprints from the Lima Locomotive Works, which was once the third-largest builder of steam trains in the U.S.
Amazing Exhibits to Explore
The museum has many exhibits that show different parts of history.
Sheriff Sarber and the John Dillinger Jail Cell
One of the most famous exhibits is a replica of a 1930s jail cell. It features wax figures of the famous bank robber John Dillinger and a local hero, Sheriff Jess Sarber.
In 1933, after Dillinger was caught by police, he was held at the Allen County Jail in Lima. While he was there, some of his gang members came to the jail. They tricked Sheriff Sarber and helped Dillinger escape. During the escape, Sheriff Sarber was shot and died.
This exhibit honors Sheriff Sarber for his bravery. It displays artifacts and old newspapers that tell the story of his life and work. Because of what happened in Lima, the FBI named Dillinger "Public Enemy #1."
The Mighty Shay Locomotive
A giant Shay Locomotive engine is a main attraction at the museum. It sits behind a huge glass window so everyone can see it. This engine, No. 10, was built in 1925 by the Lima Locomotive Works for a local stone company. It's a special type of geared locomotive that weighs about 24 tons.
In 1953, the engine was about to be cut up and sold for scrap metal. Luckily, it was saved just in time! The Allen County Historical Society had it restored for free. For many years, it sat outside under a shelter. Now, it has a permanent home inside the museum, protected from the weather. This train is a powerful reminder of Lima's history as a major center for building locomotives.
Native American History
The museum has a large collection of artifacts from the Native Americans who first lived in the area. You can see their art, pottery, clothing, and tools. Some of these items are thousands of years old, from the time of the Ice Age.
One display shows the original borders of the Shawnee Reservation. This was land that was set aside for the Shawnee people to live on. Later, they were forced to move west.
Another exhibit shows a recreation of a Glacial Kame burial. The Kame people lived in the area about 4,000 years ago. The display shows how they buried their people in a curled position. The original skeleton was found in 1960 near Lima.
George Washington's Mount Vernon in Miniature
Upstairs, you can see an amazing model of Mount Vernon, the home of President George Washington. The model shows what daily life was like on the plantation for workers and Washington's family.
It took George S. Pond and his son almost three years to build this detailed model. It has thousands of tiny, handmade pieces. For example, the roof has over 8,000 shingles that were each stained and polished by hand. The model's doors even have tiny working hinges, locks, and keys!
In the same room, you can see real artifacts from that time. These include glassware used by Washington, a real American flag from 1795, and pages from a book signed by King George III of England.
Classic Cars and Carriages
If you like old vehicles, you'll love this collection. The museum has many historic cars and carriages, including:
- A 1923 Milburn Electric Car (it ran on batteries!)
- A 1909 Locomobile Sports Roadster
- A horse-drawn Studebaker wagon
- A restored 1920s Meadow Gold Milk Wagon
- A 1925 Ford Model T
- A 1908 Thor Motorcycle
The museum also has a fully restored Gramm-Bernstein "Liberty Truck." During World War I, companies in Lima built over 5,000 of these trucks for the U.S. Army. They were designed so their parts could be swapped between trucks, which made them easy to repair on the battlefield.
Strange and Unique Items
The museum is also famous for its collection of unusual objects. It has the world's largest collection of taxidermy albino (all-white) animals. There is also a room showing what Noah's Ark might have looked like inside.
One of the most curious exhibits is a collection of over 100 small items that were removed from people's throats by two local doctors. The objects include coins, buttons, bones, jewelry, and even a screw and a key.
The MacDonell House
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MacDonell House
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Front of the house
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 632 W. Market St., Lima, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1893 |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001999 |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 1978 |
Next to the museum is the MacDonell House, a beautiful home built in 1893. It is designed in a special way called Shingle Style. Because of its historical importance, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a protected landmark.
Community Activities
The Allen County Museum is very active in the community. It offers monthly talks, special programs for schools, and fun events like the yearly Christmas Tree Festival.
