PAOLI – The Orange County Historic Museum in Paoli has seen a steady stream of visitors throughout June, drawing individuals from across Indiana, including English, Mitchell, Madison, Bloomington, and Elkhart. The museum has also welcomed guests from as far away as Milford, OH, Cincinnati, OH, and Uxbridge, MA.
Located in the northwest corner of the Courthouse square, the museum is generally open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Special appointments can be arranged for visits outside of these hours. Admission to the museum is free; however, donations are encouraged to support the upkeep and preservation of the historic collection. The museum will be closed on July 4th.
The museum’s gift shop, situated in the downstairs main room, now features several new Orange County-themed items and keepsakes for the summer season.
For those interested in local history, the historic Thomas Elwood Lindley House is available for individual and group tours by appointment only, from now through late fall. This farmhouse offers a glimpse into what a typical Orange County farm home might have looked like between the mid-1850s and the 1860s.
Exciting plans are underway for Orange County’s America 250 celebration, which officially commenced on June 14th and will continue through July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A new Facebook page, “Orange County America 250,” has been created to provide a schedule of upcoming events and happenings.
Additionally, 2025 marks the 175th anniversary of the historic Orange County Courthouse, with a special “birthday” observance anticipated later this year.
The Orange County Historical Society (OCHS) holds its monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Paoli Library. Membership in the OCHS offers numerous benefits, most notably providing members with an active role in supporting the Orange County Museum and promoting the county’s rich heritage for future generations.
For more information about the OCHS or any of its activities, interested individuals may contact Society President Robert F. Henderson at 812-653-1212, via email at info@historicorangecounty.org, or through the OCHS website at www.historicorangecounty.org. The Orange County Historical Society also maintains a Facebook page.
