Tippecanoe County Historical Association

Tippecanoe County Historical Association Home of all things History in Tippecanoe County, Indiana! The Feast is a nationally recognized as one of the top 100 festivals in the country.
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The Tippecanoe County Historical Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Tippecanoe County residents by collecting, preserving, and interpreting our unique and exciting history. The Tippecanoe County Historical Association (TCHA) was established in 1925 to be the county’s history keepers. TCHA’s mission is to preserve and interpret the past, create a sense of p

lace in the present and propel us toward the future with hope and commitment. The organization is the depository for many of this community’s original records, images, and recorded experiences. TCHA works to fulfill its mission in many ways – by preserving and interpreting objects, making original Tippecanoe County records, dating back as early as the first decade of the 1800’s, available to citizens, providing research aids, offering programs for children and adults, and developing exhibits. By maintaining three sites – the Genealogy and Research Center, the Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum, and Historic Fort Ouiatenon– TCHA tells the story of the county from early European contact through the battle that changed the course of the Old Northwest Territory and early regional agricultural and industrial development right up to the present. In addition to maintaining and programming four sites, TCHA puts on the largest regional historical event in the region – the Feast of the Hunters’ Moon.

Tickets are going fast for this year's Taste of the Past series! There are only a few seats left for our first dinner of...
05/27/2026

Tickets are going fast for this year's Taste of the Past series! There are only a few seats left for our first dinner of the season. Don't miss your chance to enjoy Chef Lauren’s delectable menu of American favorites in honor of our Country's Semiquincentennial. Call 765-476-8411 ext. 1 to reserve your seat!

Originally known as "Decoration Day" following the Civil War, Memorial Day was established on May 30, 1868, as a way to ...
05/25/2026

Originally known as "Decoration Day" following the Civil War, Memorial Day was established on May 30, 1868, as a way to decorate the graves of Union troops. Now, the day comemmorates all military personel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

We hope you'll join TCHA staff and volunteers this Saturday, May 30 from 2-4 p.m. at the Indiana Veteran's Home Cemetery in West Lafayette for a self-guided tour highlighting Civil War veterans who resided at the home. Docents will be stationed at selected graves to share stories about their lives and service. This tour is free and open to the public, no reservations required.

Initially named the Indiana State Soldiers’ Home, the institution was founded in 1896 to provide care for Indiana Civil War veterans. Sitting on over 200 acres, the Home was designed to be a self-sufficient community and included its own hospital, fire department, street car terminal, and post office. Renamed to the Indiana Veterans’ Home in 1976, it continues to provide care to Indiana veterans and their spouses. The cemetery has over 3,000 gravesites dating back to the 1800s and features several monuments dedicated to those who served.

Photo: Sarah Rinker at her husband's grave (Samuel T. Rinker) at the Indiana Veterans' Home (Indiana State Soldiers' Home), ca. 1910.

While the TCHA Administrative offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, you can enojoy a vist to the Tippecanoe Battlefi...
05/21/2026

While the TCHA Administrative offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, you can enojoy a vist to the Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum and History Store for Memorial Day. Normal hours will be followed with the Museum open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and the park itself open from dawn to dusk.

On Saturday the History on Tour Trailer visited the Sheffield Township Volunteer Fire Department Annual Fish Fry. Visito...
05/18/2026

On Saturday the History on Tour Trailer visited the Sheffield Township Volunteer Fire Department Annual Fish Fry. Visitors were treated to a curated exhibit on Tippecanoe County’s Bicentennial and a special exhibit on Dayton and Sheffield Township.

If you are part of a community event happening in Tippecanoe County and would like more information on hosting the History on Tour Trailer, please contact us at [email protected]

What was life like for a new immigrant arriving in Lafayette in the mid-1800s? Join us this Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at...
05/07/2026

What was life like for a new immigrant arriving in Lafayette in the mid-1800s? Join us this Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the History Center to learn about German immigrant Emilie Koenig. Through her personal letters we gain a rare glimpse into daily life, community, and the challenges and joys of building a new home in nineteenth-century Lafayette, Indiana.

This program is presented by Whitney Walton, Professor Emerita at Purdue University and sponsored by the National Group.

This Collections Close-Up 🔍 is also a trivia question!This crocheted object was donated to TCHA by Henry Taylor in 1934....
05/06/2026

This Collections Close-Up 🔍 is also a trivia question!

This crocheted object was donated to TCHA by Henry Taylor in 1934. Do you know what it is? Share your guesses in the comments!

For decades, the Tuesday of the first full week of May has been marked as National Teacher Day. Tippecanoe County's hist...
05/05/2026

For decades, the Tuesday of the first full week of May has been marked as National Teacher Day. Tippecanoe County's history of education runs deep. This photo of the faculty of the Stockwell School from 1918 is just one of many in TCHA's collection documenting this history.

Seated left to right: Chas Rizer (Principal and History), Edris Hughes (Domestic Sc. and Art) Jos. Jackson (Science and Math), Nelle Fitzgerald (English), Artie Dull (Voc Agriculture).

Standing left to right: Mabel Day (Latin and Math), Olive Bartholomew (5th and 6th grades), Grace Speaker (3rd and 4th grades), Goldie Kennedy (1st & 2nd), Belle Royer (Music and Dramatics).

Time for another Collection Close-Up 🔍!The Ridgerunners, most active in the 1950s, played regular gigs at the Columbian ...
04/29/2026

Time for another Collection Close-Up 🔍!

The Ridgerunners, most active in the 1950s, played regular gigs at the Columbian Park Pavillion, the opening of Mar-Jean Village and lots of Square Dances at the Moose Lodge. This bass and a snare drum were given to the Battle Ground Middle School by a member of the band and then donated to TCHA in 1989.

A Battle Ground native, Merle Kiser (1911-1986) served as Battle Ground town marshal, Tippecanoe County deputy assessor, Tippecanoe Township trustee and founded the Tippecanoe County Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Announcing our 2026 Taste of the Past dinner series menus! This highly-anticipated dinner has quickly become a fan-favor...
04/27/2026

Announcing our 2026 Taste of the Past dinner series menus! This highly-anticipated dinner has quickly become a fan-favorite of TCHA members. Did you know TCHA members get first access to ticket sales? If you're not already a member, join us today on our website or by emailing [email protected].

Address

1001 South Street
Lafayette, IN
47901

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(765)4768411

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