Jay County was organized in 1836. It was made up of many communities, several of which are ghost towns today. Our museum holds thousands of artifacts, big and small, to preserve the history of these early communities for present and future generations.

The following is only a small sampling of the many items that help relate the history of our county: an authentic covered wagon, Indian artifacts, Civil War & World War relics, documents signed by Abraham Lincoln, a horse-drawn mail wagon, antique farm machinery, county school memorabilia, a blacksmith shop and old tools, a pioneer exhibit, an early one-room school, business and industrial displays, quilts, clothing from various periods, antique toys, and a reference library.