This year Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society, located at 123 West George in Arcanum, has collaborated with the Ohio American 250 to commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial which is celebrating our 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
AWTHS has planned programs and events for this year around this theme. We encourage other groups and the community to join in with participating and planning events for your organization or group as well as helping and assisting those actively involved in the planning.
All programs and events are free and open to the public, including visiting during Open Hours. However, donations are always welcome!
Programs
March 12 2026 at 7pm we will kick off with “America’s First Spy”: Revolutionary War Patriot Nathan Hale. Presenter will be Catlin Clark, the Executive Director of the Mercer County Historical Society in Celina and Administrative Director of the Garst Museum.
May 14, 2026 will feature America Revolution: The Signers and Women With the Patriots. Presenters are Annette Stewart and Carole Fourman, both members of the Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society and Fort GreeneVille Daughters of the American Revolution.
September 10, 2026 (Tentative Date) Presentation of the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution by Steve Kaplan. Steve is a member of the SAR, Sons of the American Revolution and has served in various positions with the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Richard Montgomery Chapter, Dayton, Ohio.
Please follow AWTHS Facebook page and our blogs to keep updated on details for all our programs, events, displays and special exhibits.
Tours
June 6 Cary Wogoman will conduct a walking tour of downtown Arcanum. Details to be announced so watch our Facebook page and web site for those details. Cary will talk about the buildings and businesses that came to Arcanum in the settlement of the founding of the town after the formation of the state of Ohio as well as Darke County and then Twin Township, which is the second oldest township in Darke County.
Along this America 250 theme, AWTHS has displays revolving around our Darke County Revolutionary War Patriots who lived and are buried in Darke County. Bio’s of their lives are available for viewing and reading along with a Darke County map which shows the burial locations, names of the patriots and cemeteries. There are also documents in our library’s archives for further research. Want to learn about pioneer life in early Darke County? Come and see our displays, research in the library and attend our yearly programs and events.
Open Hours
The AWTHS house is open the First Saturday of each month from 9-noon with the exception of April. The month of April will be 18 in the afternoon to coordinate with Arcanum’s Alumni event.
What is Open Hours? Glad you asked. It’s an unique opportunity to see the historical building, displays, exhibits, research in the library, buy awths memberships or publications. As well as ask questions about volunteering or history of the community.
If coming to research, appointments are encouraged so our volunteers can be prepared to help answer your questions. Please email awthsresearch@gmail.com.
We have special displays and events scheduled for some of the months during Open Hours. Those include our new Ivester’s and Kepner family display, Tom Staley exhibit and the Smith Family and Store from JoAnne Pleasant Hill collection.
Special exhibits will be during some of the planned Open Hours so watch for announcements.
February will be our antique Valentines exhibit. August 1 Larry Wright will be visiting from 10-11:30am and talk about his ancestors, the Ivester’s and Kepner families. Special displays and exhibits of JoAnne Hill family and the her ancestor’s, the Smith’s, will be announced as well.
Todd Clemmons book #2 about the Dayton and Union Railroad: The Freight Years is out and available for $20 at AWTHS as well as the Fourman’s Variety Store on West George. At AWTHs, please bring exact cash or check.
Join us for an exciting New Year in 2026 with many different programs, displays and events planned for the year. Thank you to the community, as well as our our members and readers, for your continued support. For general questions, please email awthsinfo@gmail.com.
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