Allen county museum
Encyclopedia
The Allen County Museum is located in the city of Lima
, the county seat of Allen County
, Ohio
, United States
. Occupying a half city block, the museum campus includes the main museum building, a log house, the MacDonell House (a Victorian
mansion), a Shay Locomotive display, Military/Transportation building, the Children's Museum, and the Children's Garden. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums
. According to recent reports of the American Association of Museums Accreditation Department, less than 800 museums, out of more than 11,000 in the United States, are accredited. Standards for accreditation apply across the board to both small and large institutions.
The Allen County Museum is operated by the Allen County
Historical Society which was formed in 1908. Originally located in Lima's Memorial Hall, the Historical Society outgrew the available space by 1935, and began privately raising funds to build a museum. Spearheaded by Elizabeth M. MacDonell, and supported by the notable John Wesley Van Dyke, Chairman of the Atlantic Refining Company, the organization successfully raised the needed funds to build a separate facility.
World War II
interrupted construction plans, but by 1954 the cornerstone was laid—a stone from the original White House
, Washington, D.C.
Since that time, the Historical Society has amassed a large collection of items—both local and international. Archival and documentary railroad collections include builder's prints and diagrams from the Lima Locomotive Works
, which was the third largest steam locomotive builder in the United States. Central to the production of the Lima Locomotive Works was the Shay engine, invented by Ephraim Shay
.
house that was built in 1893. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978. The listing included two contributing buildings.
One of the programs, "Growing Up In Lima During the 1930s", was based on the 2003 book of Lima stories, Come Reminisce With Me, by Dr. Emmett Murray Jr., and was the best-attended lecture-style event in the museum's history.
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, the county seat of Allen County
Allen County, Ohio
Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. Its population was 106,331 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta Combined Statistical Area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Occupying a half city block, the museum campus includes the main museum building, a log house, the MacDonell House (a Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
mansion), a Shay Locomotive display, Military/Transportation building, the Children's Museum, and the Children's Garden. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums
American Association of Museums
The American Association of Museums is a non-profit association that has brought museums together since its founding in 1906, helping develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and advocating on issues of concern to the museum community...
. According to recent reports of the American Association of Museums Accreditation Department, less than 800 museums, out of more than 11,000 in the United States, are accredited. Standards for accreditation apply across the board to both small and large institutions.
The Allen County Museum is operated by the Allen County
Allen County, Ohio
Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. Its population was 106,331 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta Combined Statistical Area....
Historical Society which was formed in 1908. Originally located in Lima's Memorial Hall, the Historical Society outgrew the available space by 1935, and began privately raising funds to build a museum. Spearheaded by Elizabeth M. MacDonell, and supported by the notable John Wesley Van Dyke, Chairman of the Atlantic Refining Company, the organization successfully raised the needed funds to build a separate facility.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
interrupted construction plans, but by 1954 the cornerstone was laid—a stone from the original White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Since that time, the Historical Society has amassed a large collection of items—both local and international. Archival and documentary railroad collections include builder's prints and diagrams from the Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...
, which was the third largest steam locomotive builder in the United States. Central to the production of the Lima Locomotive Works was the Shay engine, invented by Ephraim Shay
Ephraim Shay
Ephraim Shay designed the first Shay locomotive and patented the type.He was born on July 17, 1839, in Sherman Township, Huron County, Ohio. His parents were James and Phoebe Shay....
.
MacDonell House
The MacDonnell House, also known as Banta-Van Dyke House, is a Shingle styleShingle Style architecture
The Shingle style is an American architectural style made popular by the rise of the New England school of architecture, which eschewed the highly ornamented patterns of the Eastlake style in Queen Anne architecture....
house that was built in 1893. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978. The listing included two contributing buildings.
Outreach
Among its outreach programs, the museum has presented a post-millennium series of panel discussions and unique tours of area historical attractions. These were offered during the years of 2001-2003 and were organized by Jean Engstrom, a popular columnist for the Lima News, famous for her "Makes My Heart Smile" tagline. The indoor programs were preserved on videotape and are available from the museum on VHS cassette. They covered topics such as:- Lima octogenarians
- Septuagenarians
- WW II as experienced by Lima soldiers
- Korean War as experienced by Lima soldiers
- Life at Superior Coach
- Life at Westinghouse
One of the programs, "Growing Up In Lima During the 1930s", was based on the 2003 book of Lima stories, Come Reminisce With Me, by Dr. Emmett Murray Jr., and was the best-attended lecture-style event in the museum's history.