Westerville History Museum

05/28/2026

This photograph of an Otterbein student standing in the middle of the interurban tracks with his trench coat and homemade sign makes us chuckle! The caption explains, “Huber - Acting as Traffic Cop at Corner of College Ave. and State St. from 1 to 4 P.M. Varsity 'O' Initiation. 1916.”

05/27/2026

Mary Lou Prouty, Westerville’s first female mayor, a 20-year City Council member and a forceful advocate for preserving the city’s historic character, died May 21. https://thewvlnews.com/c6r

05/07/2026

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re rewatching this video that was featured in the “Welcome to the Table” exhibit several years ago. After living in Japan, the Henderson family operated a Japanese-style tea house at the corner of Plum and State from the 1960s through the early 2000s. To gain some insight into how tea ceremonies work and their importance to Japanese culture, we talked to Dr. Yuko Eguchi Wright, who holds an assistant professor title from the Urasenke School of Japanese tea ceremony.

3 likes. "The Way of Tea"

05/04/2026

We are open! Pop in to see our new exhibit “Public Opinion,” where you can play with old technology used by journalists, try your hand at a press pass decoder activity, and see an edition of Westerville’s very first newspaper all the way back from 1867!

04/27/2026

Help us to celebrate the museum’s reopening this Friday! Drop in any time during open hours (9am-6pm) to explore the brand-new exhibit “Public Opinion: Beyond the Headlines in Westerville.”

“Public Opinion” commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States by exploring the history of the free press in Westerville. The exhibit guides you through a series of five vignettes where you can take on the role of investigative journalist. Your press pass will help you uncover the stories behind some of the most gripping headlines and heated debates in Westerville history.

This exhibit will run through spring 2027. More exhibit information: https://westervillelibrary.org/public-opinion/

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! In 1984, Boy Scouts Duane Gourley and Chris Burris planted trees at Hoover Reservoir.

04/21/2026

We couldn’t switch out exhibits without the Westerville Public Library's wonderful maintenance, marketing, and computer services teams! After we deinstall the old exhibits, they help us prep the walls, move heavy equipment, install new technology, design and print stunning labels and backdrops, and come up with creative solutions to the unexpected challenges we encounter along the way.

04/20/2026

As part of the Westerville Symphony concert this Sunday, composer and Otterbein University faculty member Jennifer Merkowitz will offer the world premiere of “Till All Success Be Nobleness,” a new work commissioned expressly for the United States' milestone 250th anniversary and rooted in Westerville's Prohibition history.

Arrive early for a special pre-concert talk at 4pm featuring the Westerville History Museum, the Westerville Historical Society, and composer Jennifer Merkowitz, exploring the historical inspiration behind the premiere and Westerville’s role in the American story.

Event details and tickets:

As Westerville and the nation prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the Westerville Symphony offers a powerful and inspiring tribute to our shared history through music that embodies the American spirit.

04/16/2026

As we’ve been taking down the old exhibits, we’ve enjoyed revisiting the notes and artwork you created for the exhibit interactives. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us!

01/16/2026

Join us next Friday night (1/23) to learn the backstory about the Anti-Saloon League collection and how it became the Westerville History Museum!

Topics will include:

🟢How did the Westerville Public Library come to hold the nation's largest prohibition collection?
🟢Did this archive really almost leave Ohio, and how did it end up staying?
🟢Where has it been for the past 50 years and what's happening with it now?
🟢What's in the collection?

Then view items that haven't been onsite since 1974, when they were packed up for transfer to Ohio History Connection.

Please note: This event is hosted in partnership with the Westerville Historical Society. Doors will close when the program begins. Other library services will not be available during the program.

Event details: https://westervillelibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/68d1ba22c798579c2e913296