JASPER — Local history buffs, families, and weekend shoppers will have a unique opportunity to travel back to the early days of Hoosier education this summer.
The historic 1918 Alexander One-Room Schoolhouse will open its doors for free public tours every Saturday morning, beginning May 23 through October 3, 2026.
The weekly open houses are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, perfectly aligning with the operating hours of the popular Jasper Farmer’s Market. The schoolhouse sits in the heart of Jasper’s cultural corridor, located right behind the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center (100 Third Avenue).
The seasonal opening offers a hands-on, immersive look into the daily lives of 19th and early 20th-century students and teachers in rural Indiana. Visitors can sit at authentic wooden desks, view vintage chalkboards, and learn about the strict, often surprising guidelines that early educators had to follow.
To enrich the experience, knowledgeable local educators and volunteers will be stationed onsite each Saturday to share historical anecdotes, answer questions, and detail what it was like to teach multiple grade levels in a single room.
The weekend tours are completely free of charge. Convenient parking is available adjacent to the site near the Jasper Public Library and the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center lot.
A Century of Survival: The History of the Alexander School
While the current structure dates back to 1918, the legacy of the Alexander School spans over two centuries, making it deeply intertwined with the foundation of Dubois County.
- The 1820 Origins: The institution was originally founded in 1820 as the Shiloh School, making it one of the first three schools ever established in Dubois County.
- The Move and Rename: In 1859, the original log building was relocated to the Kellams family farm south of Ireland, Indiana. It was subsequently renamed the Alexander School to honor the Alexander family descendants.
- Ashes to Evolution: In 1915, a devastating fire destroyed the older facility. Proving the community’s dedication to local education, a new, modern one-room schoolhouse was constructed on the site in 1918.
- Preservation by ROJAC: At one time, Dubois County was home to 124 one-room schoolhouses. To prevent the complete loss of this architectural history, the Redevelopment Association of Jasper (ROJAC) partnered with the Kellams family to relocate the 1918 structure to the Jasper riverfront area in 2021.
Today, the carefully restored schoolhouse stands alongside other historic local landmarks like the Schaeffer Barn and the Jasper City Mill. In addition to the classroom setup, the building houses permanent exhibits dedicated to celebrated local historians George R. Wilson and his sister, Margaret Wilson, highlighting their lasting contributions to the Indiana public school system.
The weekly openings provide a perfect opportunity to pair a morning of local history with the Jasper Farmer’s Market, which sets up its vendor booths right in the same parking lot. Visitors can browse fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts from local artisans before or after stepping back in time inside the schoolhouse.
For more information regarding group tours, educational resources, or weekend scheduling updates, community members can visit the Historic Jasper Website.
