LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — An organization that has been preserving Allen County history since 1908 continues to expand its reach with new exhibits and future-focused plans.
Members of the Lima Kiwanis Club recently heard from the curator of education at the Allen County Museum, who shared insights into the museum’s history and its ongoing efforts to engage the community through updated and diverse exhibits.
The museum has received a grant to create a permanent “Ohio Presidents” display, which is set to open in June as part of the museum’s America 250th celebration. Leaders say blending rotating and permanent exhibits is key to keeping visitors interested and encouraging repeat visits.
Hannah Bergstedt, curator of education at the Allen County Museum, said the museum is intentional about keeping its offerings fresh.
"It's just to keep it interesting, keep people wanting to come back. We have a civil war exhibition on until the end of May, right now, and it's all about civil war in Allen County who served, and stuff, and what artifacts we have. And then we're going to transition end of June into Railroad, which will be a mixture of contemporary artworks talking about railroad and then also objects from our collection."
The current Civil War exhibit runs through the end of May, focusing on local soldiers and artifacts from Allen County. A new railroad-themed exhibit is expected to open in late June, combining contemporary artwork with historical pieces from the museum’s collection.
Officials encourage the public to learn more about the Allen County Museum and Historical Society by visiting its website and following its social media pages.
