Boone County Indiana Historical Society

08/25/2026

Some of the most meaningful pieces in the BCHS collection aren’t the ones you’ll find in a history book. They’re the stories written by the people who lived them.

The Smokey Row, written by Dorotha Dawson Parks, is one of those treasures. Dorotha’s story begins in Boone County, Indiana, before her family moved to Smartsburg in Montgomery County. Through her memories, she preserved the everyday details of growing up in the 1920s and 1930s, including family, school, church, friendships, and community life.

Books like this remind us just how much history is tucked away in the BCHS Research Room. Personal accounts and local stories like Dorotha’s may have rarely been seen outside the families and communities that preserved them.

Come explore the collection. You never know whose story you might find.

📍 Boone County Historical Society
404 W. Main Street
Lebanon, Indiana 46052

🕰 Research Room Hours
Wednesday & Thursday
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Your stories are part of our history, too.

08/23/2026

A recent fundraiser was held by the F.O.E. Lebanon #2062 Aerie and Auxiliary, A countdown number draw, a 50/50 raffle and bake sale were held to benefit the Boone County Historical Society. As a local philanthropic organization, the Eagles chose to support the BCHS and its maintenance program for the Victorian Cragun House. A check for $8000 was presented to members of the BCHS board on August 18 at the Aerie. BCHS would like to offer our most sincere Thank you to the Eagles.

08/22/2026

Today's Historical Tea was a fantastic success. Abbie Samson and her team from Samson Historical did a wonderful job sharing the history of tea and showcasing historical dishware. Guests sampled three different teas, including one dating back to the 1773 Boston Tea Party, and enjoyed shortbread cookies baked by Libby Akers.

We extend our sincere thanks to Discover Boone County for the grant supporting this event as part of our 250th birthday celebration.

We are already working with Abbie to schedule another Historical Tea in the near future and will keep you updated.

Best regards,

Boone Co IN Historical Society

08/18/2026

The First Baptist Church of Lebanon has been part of our community for more than 150 years.

Organized in 1872 by just 14 charter members, the congregation endured a devastating fire in 1912 and dedicated its rebuilt church the following year. These pieces from the BCHS collection help preserve that history, including the May 12, 1913 Lebanon Daily Reporter announcing the dedication of the new church.

For generations of Boone County families, First Baptist has been more than a building. What is your connection to the church? Share a memory, family story, wedding, Sunday school experience, special event, or anything else you remember.

Your stories are part of our history, too. We would love to hear yours in the comments.

Want to discover more? Visit the Boone County Historical Society Research Room, where you can explore our collections of family files, photographs, newspapers, local records, and more.

📚 Research Room Hours
Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Come in, pull up a chair, and see what piece of Boone County history you might uncover!

08/15/2026

The Bicentennial Quilt will again be lowered in the Courthouse rotunda for public viewing on the following dates:

August 26th from 9 am to 4 pm
September 15th from 9 am to 7 pm

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

Reserve your seat!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/250-tea-a-colonial-tea-party-tickets-1997566943501?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=3f43f0ada374e6445c380118ad9d99d1407a31889196d8831ff67988eee6d4c6cdfdfe9a041cbcf336e8d6d18838a64bc803dbbabf235e9df7e0b06cc76b2280ccb66a6303a69bd1055aee4584

08/04/2026

Back to school means it's time for a trip down memory lane! 📚

Did you know Lebanon High School was established in 1876? That's nearly 150 years of making memories, building friendships, and leaving their mark on our community.

The Boone County Historical Society has a collection of Lebanon High School yearbooks spanning many decades, filled with photographs, clubs, sports, and snapshots of Boone County history.

What year did you graduate from Lebanon High School? Tell us in the comments!

Our Lebanon High School yearbook collection is available for viewing at the Boone County Historical Society. Whether you're researching your family history or simply taking a walk down memory lane, we invite you to stop by.

Research Room Hours
Wednesday & Thursday
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Boone County Historical Society
404 W. Main Street
Lebanon, Indiana 46052

07/31/2026

Boone County Fair-Extension Homemakers’ Open Show result for the antique quilts division:

Janet Spears took grand champion, the Historical Society quilt from the Cragun House took champion, and BCHS board member Peggy Daggy took reserve champion.

07/28/2026

📖 Throwback from Boone County Magazine

This page from the July 1977 issue features a Boone County Historical Society meeting and social at the Herr Cabin.

BCHS has a complete collection of Boone County Magazine available for viewing. Every issue offers a glimpse into the people, places, events, and stories that shaped our county.

Do you have memories of the Herr Cabin or Boone County Historical Society gatherings? We would love for you to share them in the comments.

📍 Boone County Historical Society
404 West Main Street, Lebanon

🕰 Research Room Hours
Wednesday and Thursday
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM