Sunday, Sept 24, 3:00 pm - Mary Stockwell Presentation "The Other Trails Tears: The Removal of the Ohio Indians"

In the Museum community room. Presentation is free.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the culmination of the United States’ policy to force native populations to relocate west of the Mississippi River. The most well-known episode in the eviction of American Indians in the East was the notorious "Trail of Tears" along which Southeastern Indians were driven from their homes in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to reservations in present-day Oklahoma. But the struggle in the South was part of a wider story that reaches back across time to the closing months of the War of 1812, back through many states – most notably Ohio – and into the lives of so many tribes, including the Delaware, Seneca, Shawnee, Ottawa, and Wyandot (Huron). They, too, were forced to depart from their homes in the old Ohio Country to Kansas and Oklahoma.

Sunday, Aug 27, 3:00 pm, John Winkler presentation!

Author and Attorney, John Winkler will be the featured speaker at the Fort Recovery State Museum at 3:00 on Sunday, August 27. His presentation will be the topic of his latest book, The Thames 1813: The War of 1812 on the Northwest Frontier. 

The author said, “The War of 1812 would be remembered in Britain as The American War, but it might as aptly have been called the Kentucky War! Although the state had only 5% of the American population, it provided 60% of the American soldiers in the war and suffered 70% of the American casualties.

The Kentuckians wanted to end the threat of the British inciting the Native Americans’ attacks on the settlers between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes! These troops that fought at the Thames were led by William Henry Harrison. Known in Canada as the Battle of Moraviantown, it is perhaps best known as the battle where Tecumseh was killed.

This is the fifth time John Winkler has spoken at the museum, and attendees report each time what a fascinating speaker he is. The presentation is sponsored by the Fort Recovery Foundation and the Patrons of the Museum, so there is no admission cost for this event which will be held in the Community Room of the Fort Recovery State Museum, 1 Fort Site Street. Winkler’s Campaign West series of books are available at the museum, and the author will gladly sign them.

Call 419-375-4384 for more information.

One of a Kind Auction, Sunday October 15, 5:00 pm!

Join us for our One of A Kind Auction, sponsored by Fort Recovery Historical Society and Project Recovery. This truly is a One of a Kind event! There will be a variety of items up for bid with a Silent Auction, Live Auction, and Raffles throughout the evening. Enjoy delicious Hor d'oeuvres homecooked by Psi Iota Xi. Come to bid or just enjoy having a night out with many from Fort Recovery and surrounding communities!

 All donations benefit our local community and Historical Society and are tax deductible.
Tickets are $10 donation per ticket and can be purchased from any Fort Recovery Historical Society Member or at the Fort Recovery Museum.

Saturday May 5, Museum Opens for the 2018 Season!

We hope you can come visit us this summer!
May - Weekends + Memorial Day, 12:00pm - 5:00 pm
June through August - Daily, 12:00pm - 5:00pm
September - Weekends + Labor Day, 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday May 6, 12:00-5:00, Opening Events for the 2018 Season!

Sunday, May 6 - Grand Re-Opening Events

1:00 - 2:45 Fort Recovery Area Church Histories, Displays and Artifacts - Community Room

3:00 - 4:00 Speaker - Mary Ann Olding - Historian and Old World Researcher, " The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches"

12:00 - 5:00 Chris Thompson, Archaeologist -Ball State Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Preview of Interactive Story Map Battlefield Tour, Displays/Explanations of Batteground Wayside Exhibits, and Archaeology Research Exhibit - Front Porch of Museum.  Funding Acknowledgement: This program is made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment of the Humanities.

At the Fort Recovery State Museum. Free of charge.

2018 Speaker Series Announced!

Speakers and Events for 2018
Check Website at www:fortrecoverymuseum.com or Face book Page: Fort Recovery State Museum
Call Museum - 419-375-4649, or director, Nancy Knapke - 419-375-4384

All events are held at the Museum and are free unless noted*.

Sunday, May 6 - Grand Re-Opening Events
1:00 - 2:45 Fort Recovery Area Church Histories, Displays and Artifacts - Community Room
3:00 - 4:00 Speaker - Mary Ann Olding - Historian and Old World Researcher, " The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches"
12:00 - 5:00  Chris Thompson, Archaeologist -Ball State Applied Anthropology Laboratories, 12:00 - 3:00 Chris Thompson, Archaeologist -Ball State Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Displays/Explanations of Battleground Wayside Exhibits and Traveling Interactive Story Maps - Front Porch of Museum  - Front Porch of Museum. Funding Acknowledgement: This program is made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment of the Humanities.

Sunday, June 10, 3:00
William Hogeland, Brooklyn, New York. "Autumn of the Black Snake!" A rare opportunity to hear this respected/widely read author and historian.
NOTE LOCATION: The Nazarene Family Center, 401 E. Boundary St., Fort Recovery - 3 blocks from the museum. This venue allows for a larger audience, sound projection, and handicapped accessibility.

Sunday, July 1, 12:00 - 2:00
John Winkler - "Wabash 1791 Battlefield Walk" After the walk, the author of numerous books in the Osprey Campaign Series, will entertain informal questions and discussion in the Community Room of the Museum. Limit of 30 Walk participants. Individual headphones. Free for patrons, $10* for non-patrons. Reservations Required

Sunday, August 19, 3:00
David Simmons - Sr. Editor of OHC Timeline, "The Forts of Anthony Wayne"
Featuring the building of Fort Recovery and what was revealed in the "recently discovered Burbeck papers acquired by the Clements Library, University of Michigan

Sunday, September 9, 3:00
Ken Sowards - American History Expert and Archaeology Enthusiast, "Fort Loramie - It's Significant History and Recent "Dig" Discoveries" 

Sunday, July 30, 3:00 - Professor Tim Willig, "Restoring the Chain of Friendship"

Restoring the Chain of Friendship; British Policy and the Indians of the Great Lakes, 1783-1815 is a fascinating book and therefore promises to be an interesting and informative presentation when the author speaks at the museum on Sunday, July 30. As I read the book, I found that it helped me understand the Ameican/Native relationships better by looking at it through the perspective of the British/Native alliances (chains of friendship.)

Books will be available at the museum, and Dr. Willig will be happy to personalize them.
 
The presentation will be held in the Community Room at 3:00.

Recent Donations to the Fort Recovery Historical Society

Thank you for these interesting and valuable donations!

Old Fort Recovery Equity "print blocks" - from Mary Lou McDaniels

1900 Mercer County Atlas - donated by Bonnie Seiser of Celina in honor of her maternal grandparents John & Ella Lauber of St. Henry and paternal grandparents Phil & Elizabeth Gardner of Fort Recovery.

1800's Framed picture of City Drug Store, Fort Recovery - donated by Mr./Mrs. Craig Alig. It came by way of Mrs. Alig's cousin in California. It belonged to her aunt, Sue Renger. 

Old postcards, 1908 Graduation Ceremony Booklet, Bank Book of Sam Golden – given by Rose Golden King, Celina for her grandmother, Josephine Gaerke Golden originally of Fort Recovery.

A box of Harold Ranly's glass negatives of old Fort Recovery - recently donated by his son, John Ranly (FR) by way of his brother, Mike Ranly of Manchester, Ohio.

Sunday June 25, 3:00 - Presentation by Andy Hite, Site Manager of Johnston Farms (Piqua)

The second presentation of the 2017 Summer Speaker Series is scheduled for Sunday, June 25 at 3:00. Andy Hite, Site Manager of Johnston Farms will present: "Will the Real John Johnston Please Stand Up, The Role of Indian Agents".  Presentation is open to the public and free of charge.

July 22 - St. Clair 5K Run/Walk!

Sign up for The St. Clair 5K Run scheduled for Saturday, July 22nd at 8:30am! Download a form at www.mercerhealth5kchallenge.com, or go to www.goodtimesraces.com/ and register online. A fort cannon blast will launch the race, and all runners will be off to enjoy old and new sites throughout Ft. Recovery. Pre-registered costs: $20 with race shirt, $12 without; $10 for 10 and under - no shirt. Race day sign-up is $15. Registration begins at 7:15am on the porch of the museum! We offer....Chip timing! Age Group Awards! Food and Drinks at Finish! Door Prizes!

Sign Up Here!

Jubilee Pie Contest and Auction!! Friday, June 16

A pie contest highlights the Fort Recovery Jubilee on Friday, June 16th at 8:00. Enjoy baking one or more of your favorite pies: fruit, crème, or any type specialty pie. Bring the pies to the registration stand next to the headquarters by 7:30 that evening. All pies will be judged and a $25 prize awarded to the best pie in each category. After the contest all pies will be auctioned off. Proceeds go to the Fort Recovery Historical Society for two benches in Krenning Park where new murals are being painted this summer. Call Helen at 419-375-2308 for more information.

Sun, Oct 15, 5:00 - Annual One-of-a-Kind Auction, "A Venetian Venture"

Join us for our One of A Kind Auction, sponsored by Fort Recovery Historical Society and Project Recovery on Sunday October 15. This truly is a One of a Kind event! There will be a variety of items up for bid with a Silent Auction, Live Auction, and Raffles throughout the evening. Enjoy delicious Hor d'oeuvres homecooked by Psi Iota Xi. Come to bid or just enjoy having a night out with many from Fort Recovery and surrounding communities!

 All donations benefit our local community and Historical Society and are tax deductible.
Tickets are $10 donation per ticket and can be purchased from any Fort Recovery Historical Society Member or at the Fort Recovery Museum.

Sunday May 7, 12:00-5:00, Opening Sunday Event, "Come Sit A Spell"!

Come to the Fort Recovery Museum on its Opening Sunday, May 7 to peruse some really interesting old articles and collections belonging to the Fort Recovery Historical Society. "Come Sit a Spell"!

Among the items on display and available for hands-on examination are old diaries, yearbooks, sports memorabilia, a civil war newspaper and artifacts, a tamburitza etc.

A tamburitza is a musical instrument that is a cross between a guitar and a banjo and is native to Croatia, but was manufactured in Fort Recovery in the 1940's!

The civil war newspaper is a newspaper of the South. It is a perfect example of the extreme poverty of the south at that time of the war as the paper is printed on old wallpaper, so visitors can read an actual report from that desperate wartime on the front and see the wallpaper on the back of this precious artifact, donated by a descendent of the Lipps family, an old, old historic family of Fort Recovery.

Archaeologist, Chris Thompson will be present to display and explain military artifacts that have been recovered from the fort and battlefield area.

Tables and chairs will be set up, so visitors can peruse to their heart’s content!

Come Sit a Spell with Chris, Kathy Thobe and other representatives of the historical society and museum. Free

Sunday, May 28, 3:00 - Speaker Jeremy Turner, "Life as a Shawnee in 1700s Ohio Territory"

We are excited to begin our 2017 Speaker Series with Jeremy Turner, a Shawnee Native American from Indianapolis. The Shawnees were the most prevalent tribe in our particular area, and under their war chief, Blue Jacket, they were a significant force in the 1791 Battle of the Wabash and the 1794 Battle of Fort Recovery. Hopefully, you saw the schedule (also on Face Book and Website) of speakers for this summer and can see how this presentation sets the stage for the remainder of the 2017 museum presentations. Jeremy was here as a speaker (different topic) several years ago, and he was well received, so we are looking forward to his return.

There is no charge for attendance.

Sun, Sept 24, 3:00 - "The Other Trail of Tears", Author Mary Stockwell

In the Museum community room. Presentation is free.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the culmination of the United States’ policy to force native populations to relocate west of the Mississippi River. The most well-known episode in the eviction of American Indians in the East was the notorious "Trail of Tears" along which Southeastern Indians were driven from their homes in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to reservations in present-day Oklahoma. But the struggle in the South was part of a wider story that reaches back across time to the closing months of the War of 1812, back through many states – most notably Ohio – and into the lives of so many tribes, including the Delaware, Seneca, Shawnee, Ottawa, and Wyandot (Huron). They, too, were forced to depart from their homes in the old Ohio Country to Kansas and Oklahoma.
  

Sun, Aug 27, 3:00 - "The Thames 1813: The War of 1812 on the Northwest Frontier", Author John Winkler

Author and Attorney, John Winkler will be the featured speaker at the Fort Recovery State Museum at 3:00 on Sunday, August 27. His presentation will be the topic of his latest book, The Thames 1813: The War of 1812 on the Northwest Frontier. 

The author said, “The War of 1812 would be remembered in Britain as The American War, but it might as aptly have been called the Kentucky War! Although the state had only 5% of the American population, it provided 60% of the American soldiers in the war and suffered 70% of the American casualties.

The Kentuckians wanted to end the threat of the British inciting the Native Americans’ attacks on the settlers between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes! These troops that fought at the Thames were led by William Henry Harrison. Known in Canada as the Battle of Moraviantown, it is perhaps best known as the battle where Tecumseh was killed.

This is the fifth time John Winkler has spoken at the museum, and attendees report each time what a fascinating speaker he is. The presentation is sponsored by the Fort Recovery Foundation and the Patrons of the Museum, so there is no admission cost for this event which will be held in the Community Room of the Fort Recovery State Museum, 1 Fort Site Street. Winkler’s Campaign West series of books are available at the museum, and the author will gladly sign them.

Call 419-375-4384 for more information.

Sun, July 30, 3:00 - "Restoring the Chain of Friendship", Author Tim Willig

Restoring the Chain of Friendship; British Policy and the Indians of the Great Lakes, 1783-1815 is a fascinating book and therefore promises to be an interesting and informative presentation when the author speaks at the museum on Sunday, July 30. As I read the book, I found that it helped me understand the Ameican/Native relationships better by looking at it through the perspective of the British/Native alliances (chains of friendship.)

Books will be available at the museum, and Dr. Willig will be happy to personalize them.
 
The presentation will be held in the Community Room at 3:00.

Sat, July 22, 8:30 - St. Clair 5K Run/Walk

Sign up for The St. Clair 5K Run scheduled for Saturday, July 22nd at 8:30am! Download a form at www.mercerhealth5kchallenge.com, or go to www.goodtimesraces.com/ and register online. A fort cannon blast will launch the race, and all runners will be off to enjoy old and new sites throughout Ft. Recovery. Pre-registered costs: $20 with race shirt, $12 without; $10 for 10 and under - no shirt. Race day sign-up is $15. Registration begins at 7:15am on the porch of the museum! We offer....Chip timing! Age Group Awards! Food and Drinks at Finish! Door Prizes!

Sign Up Here!

Sun, June 25, 3:00 - "Will the Real John Johnston Please Stand Up", Johnston Farms (Piqua) Site Manager, Andy Hite

2017 Speaker Series
Fort Recovery State Museum, Community Room
Presentation free to the public

Sunday, June 25, 3:00
Will the Real John Johnston Please Stand Up; The Role of Indian Agents during the 18th Century
Johnston Farms (Piqua) Site Manager, Andy Hite

Fri, June 16 - Jubilee Pie Contest and Auction

Jubilee Pie Contest and Auction!! A pie contest highlights the Fort Recovery Jubilee on Friday, June 16th at 8:00. Enjoy baking one or more of your favorite pies: fruit, crème, or any type specialty pie. Bring the pies to the registration stand next to the headquarters by 7:30 that evening. All pies will be judged and a $25 prize awarded to the best pie in each category. After the contest all pies will be auctioned off. Proceeds go to the Fort Recovery Historical Society for two benches in Krenning Park where new murals are being painted this summer. Call Helen at 419-375-2308 for more information.

Sun, May 28, 3:00 - "Life as a Shawnee in 1700s Ohio Territory", Native American Speaker Jeremy Turner

2017 Speaker Series
Fort Recovery State Museum, Community Room
Presentation free to the public

Sunday, May 28, 3:00
"Life as a Shawnee on the Ohio Country Frontier"
Native American Speaker Jeremy Turner

Sun, May 7, 12:00-5:00 - Opening Sunday Events, "Come Sit a Spell"

Come to the Fort Recovery Museum on its Opening Sunday, May 7 to peruse some really interesting old articles and collections belonging to the Fort Recovery Historical Society. "Come Sit a Spell"!

Among the items on display and available for hands-on examination are old diaries, yearbooks, sports memorabilia, a civil war newspaper and artifacts, a tamburitza etc.

A tamburitza is a musical instrument that is a cross between a guitar and a banjo and is native to Croatia, but was manufactured in Fort Recovery in the 1940's!

The civil war newspaper is a newspaper of the South. It is a perfect example of the extreme poverty of the south at that time of the war as the paper is printed on old wallpaper, so visitors can read an actual report from that desperate wartime on the front and see the wallpaper on the back of this precious artifact, donated by a descendent of the Lipps family, an old, old historic family of Fort Recovery.

Archaeologist, Chris Thompson will be present to display and explain military artifacts that have been recovered from the fort and battlefield area.

Tables and chairs will be set up, so visitors can peruse to their heart’s content!


Come Sit a Spell with Chris, Kathy Thobe and other representatives of the historical society and museum. Free

Opportunity for new FRHS Space - Partners Needed!

The Fort Recovery Historical Society has the opportunity to acquire a new space for our local history collections and programming. However, this new space is too much for the historical society to manage on its own. The space would seat over 100 comfortably, providing for large or small meetings/gatherings. It would also provide a place to properly store, and/or display past, present and future donations made to the Historical Society and relating to the last 225 years of Fort Recovery History.

If any local group or individual is interested in partnering with the historical society on managing and using this additional space, please email or call one of the following FR Historical Society officers and Museum trustees: Irene Stone (l-istone@bright.net 419 375-2364), Kathy Thobe (kmthobe@bright.net 419 375-4227), Pat Diller (npdiller@bright.net 419 375-4624), Nancy Knapke (fortnancy@bright.net 419 375-4384), or Christine Thompson (ckthompson733@aol.com 260 251-9074).

We look forward to hearing from anyone that might be interested in partnering with us!

Online Battlefield Tour Story Map!

Click here for our online Battlefield Tour Story Map!  You can use the Battle of the Wabash and Battle of Fort Recovery Battlefield Tour Story Map on any computer, smartphone, or tablet.  This free on-line application can be used while you are visiting the battlefield and in conjunction with 15 wayside exhibit..  Or you can use the Battlefield Tour Story Map to get a feel for the battlefield when you are not able to visit.  We hope you enjoy this on-line interpretation of our history!

This Battlefield Tour Story Map is made possible, in part by the Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Story Map do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support provided by the Fort Recovery Historical Society, Fort Recovery Museum, and Ball State University. Story Map created and designed by the Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Department of Anthropology, Ball State University.

Like us on Facebook! Photos, updates and more!

In order to keep our visitors and guests updated of all museum activities and events (and to post photos of recent events), we are now on Facebook. Visit us at www.facebook.com/fortrecoverymuseum