What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 8pm Sunday 12pm - 4pm

French Lick West Baden Museum, 469 S Maple Street Suite 103, French Lick, IN (2026)

09/02/2026

🏛️ 30 DAYS OF HISTORY - DAY 2: YOUR NAME BELONGS IN HISTORY

Yesterday, we kicked off 30 Days of History by inviting you to help us preserve, celebrate, and share the incredible story of French Lick and West Baden.

Today, we’re talking about something a little more permanent.

🧱 YOUR NAME CAN BECOME PART OF THE MUSEUM.

We are raising funds through our Historic Brick Paver Fundraiser, and each brick lets you leave a permanent message at the French Lick West Baden Museum.

Think about it: years from now, someone could walk across that brick, see your name, and wonder about the story behind it.

Maybe it’s your:
❤️ Family Name
🕯️ Memorial to someone you love
🏪 Business
🎓 Class or graduating year
💍 Anniversary
🤝 Organization or club
🏡 Historic local family
📍 “I Love French Lick”
😂 A funny personal message
✨ Or simply your name, because you want to help preserve local history.

And that's what makes this fundraiser special.

French Lick and West Baden are filled with names that have become part of our community's story. Some belonged to hotel owners and businesspeople. Some belonged to politicians, entertainers, workers, families, shopkeepers, farmers, visitors, and everyday people who helped make these towns what they are today.

Now it can be your turn!

Your brick can commemorate someone who came before you.
It can celebrate where you are today.
Or it can leave a little piece of your family here for generations to come.

🧱 A brick is small. A legacy doesn't have to be!

Every purchase helps support our mission at the French Lick West Baden Museum and our ongoing work to preserve the history, stories, photographs, artifacts, and memories of our community.

So start thinking…

What would YOU put on your brick?

👇 Tell us in the comments! And if you’re ready to become a permanent part of the museum, consider purchasing your brick today.

🧱 READY TO BECOME PART OF THE MUSEUM?

Order your brick today and leave your name, your family’s name, a memorial, business, organization, special date, or personal message permanently at the French Lick West Baden Museum!

👉 Order your brick here: www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations

30 DAYS OF HISTORY. 30 DAYS OF PRESERVATION. ONE COMMUNITY.
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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations

Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

09/01/2026

🏛️ 30 DAYS OF HISTORY - DAY 1! 🏛️

IT ALL STARTS HERE!

For the next 30 days, we're going to take you on a journey through the incredible history of French Lick & West Baden - the people, places, businesses, hotels, legends, inventions, disasters, celebrations, and stories that made our little corner of Indiana one of the most fascinating places in the country.

But there's something even more important behind these 30 days:

History doesn't preserve itself. WE DO.
Every photograph we save.
Every artifact we protect.
Every story we record.
Every exhibit we build.
Every historic building we document.
Every visitor who walks through our doors.

It all takes people who believe that our history is worth saving.

🎟️ COME VISIT US!
The easiest way to support local history is simply to come through the doors of the French Lick West Baden Museum!

Explore our exhibits and discover the stories of the community that grew from mineral springs, railroads, grand hotels, small-town businesses, famous visitors, legendary entertainers, and generations of people who called this place home.

Your admission directly helps us continue to preserve and share these stories.

❤️ BECOME A MEMBER!

Want to do more?

Become a member of the French Lick West Baden Museum!

Membership helps provide the dependable support a small nonprofit museum needs to preserve collections, create exhibits, maintain our archives, host programs, and keep local history alive for the next generation.

And members receive FREE museum admission, along with other benefits throughout the year, including the FREE Annual Member Appreciation Party on September 12 this year at the French Lick American Legion.

Whether you've lived here your entire life or you're discovering French Lick & West Baden for the first time, there's a place for you in our museum family.

🧱 LEAVE YOUR MARK ON HISTORY!

And now, we're also giving you the opportunity to become a permanent part of the story.

Our Museum Brick Paver Fundraiser, which began when we moved to our current space in 2013, is nearly full, so there is no better time to secure your permanent place in Downtown History.

By purchasing a commemorative brick paver, you can leave your name, family, business, or message as part of our community's future history.

Your brick will help us pave the way toward future preservation.

30 DAYS. 30 STORIES. ONE COMMUNITY.

Over the next month, we're going to dig deep into the history of French Lick and West Baden.

Some stories will be famous.
Some will be forgotten.
Some will be surprising.
And some might make you say;
"I never knew THAT happened here!"

So follow along, share these posts with your friends, visit the museum, become a member, and consider purchasing a historic brick paver.

Because every one of us has a role to play in preserving the story of this place.

Welcome to 30 Days of History.

DAY 1 STARTS NOW. 🏛️
The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

08/18/2026

🎉 YOU’RE INVITED TO THE FRENCH LICK WEST BADEN MUSEUM MEMBER PARTY! 🇺🇸

History is worth celebrating, and on Saturday, September 12, we’re bringing our members together for an incredible evening of friends, food, music, fun, and the preservation of our community's history!

Join us from 5–7 PM at the French Lick American Legion Post #76, located at 8607 W. Main Street in French Lick, in the historic Main Ballroom, formerly home to the 1925 Elite Cafe Dance Club and Casino.

We’ve got an unforgettable night planned, including:
🍽️ Food & fellowship
🎁 Live & silent auctions
👗 Costume contest
🏆 Special awards
❤️ And, most importantly, a celebration of the people who make the French Lick West Baden Museum possible!

And don’t forget our Costume Contest! 🇺🇸🎉 We want to see your most spectacular RED, WHITE & BLUE outfits, but don’t stop there! Come dressed as a character from history or a bygone era - a pioneer or settler, patriot, hippie, gangster, famous historical figure, or anyone else from our incredible past. The more creative, the better! 👒🎩🕺🇺🇸

And, of course, there are BONUS POINTS for anyone brave enough to show up as Pluto himself - the mythical mascot of French Lick Mineral Water! 🔱💧 Who knows what fabulous prizes and bragging rights might await the best-dressed guests? Start planning your costume now and make history with us!

Already a museum member? This is YOUR night! Come celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together and enjoy an evening with fellow history lovers, volunteers, supporters, and friends.

Not a member yet? There’s never been a better time to join! Your membership directly helps us preserve, protect, and share the incredible history of French Lick and West Baden for future generations. And what better way to begin your membership than by joining us for this fantastic evening?
Join us now at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations

From our historic hotels and mineral water heritage to our circus history, local families, African American heritage, railroads, entertainment, and so much more, every membership helps keep these stories alive.

🇺🇸 250 years of American history. Generations of local history. One incredible museum.

Come be part of it!

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 French Lick American Legion Post #76
8607 W. Main St., French Lick, Indiana

RSVP: (812) 936-3592
📧 [email protected]

Join us. Celebrate with us. Help us preserve history. ❤️💙
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

08/12/2026

We are still absolutely thrilled by an unforgettable visit yesterday at the French Lick West Baden Museum!

A very special THANK YOU to the legendary Rita Moreno, famed star of stage and screen and one of only 28 EGOT winners in history, for spending part of her day with us! Rita visited the museum with her daughter, Fernanda Luisa Gordon, and her husband, David, brought to the museum by our former president, Steve Rondinaro, a longtime friend of the museum and renowned broadcaster.

Rita and her family enjoyed a guided tour with our museum staff and volunteers, exploring the exhibits and learning about the fascinating and sometimes surprising history of French Lick and West Baden.

But there was one thing that truly BLEW HER AWAY — our World’s Largest Circus Diorama! 🎪

Containing an incredible 500,000 pieces, this miniature masterpiece recreates the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus at the height of its glory in the 1920s, when it was one of the largest and most famous circuses in the world and called West Baden Springs home for nearly a decade.

Watching Rita take in the incredible detail of the diorama was an absolute joy, and we were even more delighted to hear her enthusiasm and excitement as she explored it!

Meeting Rita was an experience we won't soon forget. She was an absolute pleasure - warm, hilarious, engaging, and filled with wonderful stories and laughter. And honestly… there was absolutely no indication that this remarkable woman is 94 years old! ❤️

Thank you, Rita, Fernanda, David, and Steve, for making yesterday such a special day at the French Lick West Baden Museum. We hope you enjoyed your visit as much as we enjoyed having you!

Come see what amazed an EGOT winner! 🎪✨
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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

08/08/2026

🎷 WHEN FRENCH LICK BECAME A JAZZ CAPITAL 🎶

Imagine arriving in French Lick in August of 1958.

The French Lick-Sheraton Hotel was packed. Visitors had come from across America to experience something that had never quite happened in Southern Indiana before: a major jazz festival featuring some of the biggest names in American music.

The French Lick Jazz Festival was only in its second year, but it was already being described as one of the most important jazz events in the Midwest. Produced by legendary jazz promoter George Wein, who was also responsible for the famed Newport Jazz Festival, the three-day event brought together an extraordinary collection of musicians. Contemporary reports described more than 13,700 people attending the festival, including approximately 5,400 on the final night alone.

And what a lineup it was;
🎺 Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
🎹 Dave Brubeck
🎷 Stan Kenton and His Orchestra
🎺 Dizzy Gillespie
🎷 Gerry Mulligan
🥁 Gene Krupa
🎹 Erroll Garner
🎶 The Four Freshmen
…and many other nationally recognized musicians.

The opening night of the Jazz Festival featured Erroll Garner and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, while the Saturday program included Gerry Mulligan, Gene Krupa and Eddie Condon's All Stars. The festival concluded Sunday evening with Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie and the Four Freshmen.

Newspapers from the time were amazed by the response. More than 4,000 people attended the opening night, with visitors coming from places such as Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati. One report even noted that more than 2,000 Cincinnati residents had purchased tickets in advance.

The festival was held outdoors on the enormous grounds of the French Lick-Sheraton, beneath the trees and in an informal concert setting. The crowds were so large that organizers were already considering expanding the amphitheater to accommodate up to 10,000 people.

For French Lick, this was more than just a weekend of concerts. It was an ambitious attempt to establish Southern Indiana as an important destination for music and culture. Contemporary writers compared the festival to Newport and predicted that French Lick could someday develop a reputation for music comparable to some of the country's most famous cultural destinations.

And now, nearly 70 years later, we have the opportunity to hear some of that history again.

🎧 We are beginning to share a selection of recordings from the French Lick Jazz Festival on our YouTube channel, featuring music from Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck and the Four Freshmen.

These aren't simply old recordings; they are a way to experience a little of what thousands of people heard when some of the greatest names in American jazz came to French Lick.

👉 Listen to the recordings on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdUPrLs4XooY

But our search is far from over!

The museum is actively searching for additional recordings and documentation from the French Lick Jazz Festival. We know there may still be treasures sitting in attics, closets, personal collections, family archives, and old boxes, perhaps recordings made by someone who attended the festival, photographs taken from the audience, programs, tickets, newspaper clippings, correspondence, or other memorabilia.

Maybe your parents or grandparents attended. Maybe you remember hearing stories about the festival. Maybe you have something tucked away that you never realized was connected to this extraordinary chapter of French Lick history.

If you have a recording, photograph, program, ticket, newspaper clipping, or story about the French Lick Jazz Festival, we would LOVE to hear from you.

Our goal is to continue bringing this history back to life - not just through photographs and newspaper articles, but through the actual sounds of the musicians who once stood on a stage here in French Lick.

🎷 The music is still here. Help us find more of it!

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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

08/07/2026

🧱 A Piece of French Lick & West Baden History - Saved! 🧱

We would like to send a huge thank you to Milestone Contracting of Columbus, Indiana, for gifting the French Lick West Baden Museum a selection of historic bricks recently uncovered beneath modern-day asphalt during work around town!

These bricks are remnants of the historic brick streets that once traversed nearly every street in French Lick and West Baden, long before today’s pavement covered them. For generations, these sturdy streets carried residents, visitors, horse-drawn wagons, automobiles, and countless stories through our communities.

Now, a little piece of those streets has found its way into the museum - and we have some BIG plans for these historic bricks! 👀

Stay tuned…we can't wait to show you what we're going to do with them!

Thank you again to Milestone Contracting for helping preserve another tangible piece of our local history. ❤️
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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

08/01/2026

✨ They're finally here! ✨

We're excited to introduce the first-ever custom T-shirt created exclusively for the French Lick West Baden Museum!

The front proudly features the French Lick West Baden Museum logo, while the back showcases a large, vibrant print of a 1910s sticker of Pluto, the mythical Roman figure who became one of America's earliest and most recognizable advertising mascots for the world-famous, fast-acting French Lick Mineral Water.

Whether you're a local history enthusiast, a collector of unique museum merchandise, or simply want to show your love for French Lick and West Baden Springs, this shirt is the perfect addition to your wardrobe.

👕 Available now in our French Lick 5 & 10 Vintage Dime Store Gift Shop
📏 Sizes Small through 3XL

Stop by the museum, grab yours before they're gone, and wear a piece of French Lick history wherever you go!
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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

07/31/2026

🎹 Did you know pianos built right here in West Baden Springs took center stage at the 1984 Summer Olympics?

Forty-two years ago, billions of viewers around the world watched one of the most unforgettable moments in Olympic Opening Ceremony history as 84 grand pianos performed George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

What many people don't realize is that those pianos were built by the Kimball Piano Division in West Baden Springs, Indiana. The factory shipped 83 Kimballs and 1 Bosendorfer grand piano to Los Angeles, where they became part of an Emmy Award-winning Opening Ceremony watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide.

The performance required months of planning, dozens of piano technicians, and 84 pianists performing in perfect synchronization. Following the Games, the Olympic pianos were sold across the country, each becoming a unique piece of Olympic history.

For decades, the Kimball Piano factory was one of the largest employers in our community, producing world-class instruments that found their way into homes, concert halls, World's Fairs, and even the Olympic Games. Although piano production in West Baden ended in 1991, the craftsmanship and pride of the workers who built these remarkable instruments continue to be part of our community's legacy.

🎥 Today we're sharing original footage from this incredible performance - a reminder that the sounds of West Baden once echoed across the world.

Did you or someone you know work at the Kimball Piano factory? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments!

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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations
Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

07/30/2026

🤝 Become a Friend of the Museum! ❤️

History isn't preserved by buildings alone - it lives because of the people who care enough to protect it.

The French Lick West Baden Museum is looking for Friends of the Museum to help us share the incredible stories of our community. Whether you enjoy meeting visitors, working with historic collections, helping with special events, or simply giving back to your hometown, there's a place for you here.

As a volunteer, you'll:
🏛️ Meet people who love local history.
📚 Learn fascinating stories about French Lick and West Baden.
❤️ Give back to your community in a meaningful way.
⭐ Help create memorable experiences for thousands of visitors each year.

No experience is necessary! Just a passion for our community and a willingness to make a difference. Every hour of volunteer time helps preserve Orange County's rich heritage for future generations.

Your Time. Our Heritage. A Lasting Impact.

If you've ever wanted to get involved, we'd love to welcome you to our museum family.

📞 Interested in volunteering? Give us a call at 812-936-3592 or stop by the museum to learn more.

Together, we can keep our history alive. Thank you for helping preserve the stories that make French Lick and West Baden so special! ❤️
--
The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations

Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

07/26/2026

💡 Another Forgotten Invention from French Lick & West Baden

Did you know that one of the most influential inventions in circus history was patented right here in West Baden Springs, Indiana?

On April 22, 1919, circus superintendent and inventor William H. "Cap" Curtis, then a resident of West Baden, was awarded U.S. Patent No. 1,301,107 for a revolutionary portable seat structure designed specifically for traveling circuses.

At first glance, it may not sound exciting, but this invention transformed how circuses traveled across America.

Before Curtis's design, thousands of individual seat planks, supports, and braces had to be unloaded, assembled, leveled, and later packed away by hand in every town. Curtis solved this problem by creating folding grandstands built directly onto circus wagons. The seating could unfold in minutes, then collapse back into a wagon that transported not only the grandstand itself but also additional circus equipment. His design dramatically reduced setup time, lowered labor costs, improved spectator safety, and made the massive traveling circuses of the early 20th century far more efficient.

Curtis wasn't just an inventor—he was one of the greatest circus engineers of his era. During his remarkable 65-year career, he worked with the Sells-Floto Circus, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Cole Bros. Circus, and many others. While serving as General Superintendent of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, he designed and built circus wagons at Peru, Indiana, and West Baden Springs, making our community an important center of circus innovation.

His portable seating patent is just one of dozens of improvements he made to circus operations, earning him a reputation as the man who modernized the mechanics of the American circus. He was later inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame in recognition of his extraordinary contributions.

It's incredible to think that one of the most practical inventions ever developed for the traveling circus began as an idea right here in West Baden Springs. Another reminder that our small community played a surprisingly large role in American history.

Have you ever sat in old circus grandstands like these? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments! 🎪

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The French Lick West Baden Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Join and support the museum online at https://www.flwbmuseum.com/membership-donations

Sponsored by Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
Supported by Timeless French Lick

French Lick West Baden Museum

09/02/2026

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08/18/2026

08/12/2026

08/08/2026

08/07/2026

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07/31/2026

07/30/2026

07/26/2026

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Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 8pm
Sunday	12pm - 4pm