John Hay Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hay-Morrison House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front and southern end of the house
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 Location in Washington County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Salem, Indiana |
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| Built | 1824 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000007 |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1971 |
The John Hay Center is a special place in Salem, Indiana, where you can explore history! It sits on the eastern edge of the old downtown area. This center includes several important buildings and exhibits. They all help tell the story of the past, especially about a famous person named John Hay and what life was like in Indiana many years ago.
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Discover the John Hay Center
The John Hay Center is a collection of historic buildings and exhibits. It was created to help people learn about the history of Washington County, Indiana. The idea for the center came from a local history lover named Everett Dean. Many of the items you see inside were part of his own collection.
One cool fact about the center is how it grew. No money was ever borrowed to make improvements. Everything was paid for with funds that were already available!
The Hay-Morrison House
The Hay-Morrison House is a very important part of the center. It was the birthplace and home of John Hay. John Hay grew up to be a very important person in American history. He was the private secretary for President Abraham Lincoln. Later, he became the Secretary of State for Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. The Secretary of State is like the country's main diplomat, dealing with other nations.
The house was bought by John Hay's father, Dr. Charles Hay, in 1837. In 1967, the Washington County Historical Society bought the home. They worked hard to restore it. Now, it looks much like it did in the 1840s. This house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971. This means it's recognized as a very important historic site.
Explore Pioneer Village
The Pioneer Village at the John Hay Center is like stepping back in time! It's a "living village" that shows what life was like in Indiana around the 1840s. You can see many different buildings that were common in that era.
Village Buildings
Some of the buildings in the Pioneer Village are original structures. For example, the general store and post office were moved here from New Philadelphia, Indiana. Other buildings were built using logs from old homes and stores in Washington County. These include a bell tower, a blacksmith shop, a cozy cabin, a carpenter's shop, a church, a jail, a loom house, a school, and a smokehouse. Walking through the village helps you imagine daily life long ago.
Stevens Memorial Museum
The Stevens Memorial Museum was built in 1970. It was made using materials, especially bricks, from several other historic buildings in the area. This museum holds many important items from Indiana and American history. It also has a special center for people researching their family history.
Museum Exhibits
Inside the museum, you can see different exhibits. There's a display of an old dentist office. You can also learn about a local candy maker. Another exhibit shows what offices for lawyers were like before the American Civil War. The museum has grown over time, with new additions built in 1984 and 1995.
Depot Railroad Museum
The Depot Railroad Museum looks just like the old train station that was burned down in 1863. That happened during the American Civil War by a group called John Hunt Morgan's Raiders. The museum is filled with items related to railroads. It also has large pictures showing what the Washington County, Indiana landscape looked like in the past.
The Story of the Depot
One interesting item in the museum is a money chest. Morgan's Raiders checked this chest for money. When they found only tools inside, they decided to burn the depot down. The museum was officially opened on September 22, 2001. A retired local newspaper editor named Cecil Smith helped make it happen. His collection of railroad items became the basis for the museum. Many grants and 39 students helped move the model trains into the new building.
Gallery
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Cabins in the Pioneer Village
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Old Settlers' Days' festival within the Center
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Panorama inside the Depot
See also
