Jefferson County History & Art Center

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Jefferson County History & Art Center The Center offers a variety of local history and art exhibits, a research library and archives. Take a moment to relax near our beautiful fountain.

Owned and operated by the Jefferson County Historical Society, established in 1850. Located in the heart of Madison's National Historic Landmark District, the History Center has much to offer. Our museum is the perfect way to start your journey into the rich history of Madison and Jefferson County told through interesting exhibits. Explore our restored 1895 railroad station museum with a model of Madison's early railroad. Don't miss the 1918 caboose with a look-out - a favorite with children. Browse our Museum Store with gifts, local interest books and in-house publications. For researchers, our extensive Research Library and Archives have over 25,000 images, thousands of documents of early governmental records, and local family genealogy. Educational programs are offered throughout the year, including an annual student art show, summer camp and holiday workshops. We are conveniently located at the corner of First and Mill Streets. Just look for the Red Caboose!

Join us this Sunday for an afternoon of music and Hoosier history!The Columbus Mandolin Orchestra will honor Hoosier Man...
10/20/2026

Join us this Sunday for an afternoon of music and Hoosier history!

The Columbus Mandolin Orchestra will honor Hoosier Mandolinist John Goodin as part of Tunes & Tales, our program series at the Jefferson County History & Art Center that brings history to life through music, storytelling, and conversation.

Born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1951, John Goodin built a lasting legacy in the world of mandolin music. A graduate of Indiana University and a founding member of the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra, Goodin drew inspiration from the landscapes and rivers of the Midwest. Known for his generosity, he shared his compositions freely, helping make mandolin music accessible to musicians and audiences alike.

Join the Columbus Mandolin Orchestra as they celebrate Goodin’s life and legacy with selections from his extensive body of work, along with conversation exploring his contributions to music.

Sunday, October 25
Jefferson County History & Art Center
615 W. First Street, Madison, Indiana
Reception begins at 2:30 PM
Concert & Discussion at 3:00 PM

FREE ADMISSION

The program will take place in the Jefferson Room, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. A special thank you to the Madison Music Movement for sponsoring this event and helping bring Tunes & Tales to our community.

We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon where history is heard as well as told!

As fall begins to take hold across Indiana (even if the warmer temperatures are making a comeback!), we thought this pai...
10/19/2026

As fall begins to take hold across Indiana (even if the warmer temperatures are making a comeback!), we thought this painting by local artist Edward C. Chowning was fitting to share. 🍂

This autumn landscape features a stand of beech trees, perhaps somewhere in rural Jefferson County. While we cannot say for certain where Chowning found his inspiration, the painting captures the beauty of our local landscape in the fall.

Chowning studied under famed Madison artist William McKendree Snyder, whose influence can be seen in Chowning’s artistic style. But painting was only one of his talents! Chowning was also a self-taught musician who played background music and sound effects for silent films at Madison’s Grand Opera House. He even made several trips aboard riverboats to New Orleans, performing with a band called Lou Perry’s Footwarmers. He died in 1935 at just 40 years old.

You can see this painting, along with many other works by local artists, in our current temporary exhibit, Creative Jefferson County!

Stop by the Jefferson County History & Art Center today and discover the art, artists, and stories that make our community so special!

We’re only a few weeks away from a view like this at the Broadway Fountain on a beautiful autumn day! 🍂🍁 There’s somethi...
10/17/2026

We’re only a few weeks away from a view like this at the Broadway Fountain on a beautiful autumn day! 🍂🍁 There’s something special about the fall colors, the crisp air, and the timeless charm of Madison that makes this season such a wonderful time to visit.

This postcard was published by Visit Madison in the early 1990s to remind visitors that every season offers great reasons to visit Madison and Jefferson County! And decades later, that message still rings true. ❤️

📸 Photo by Michael Heitz

Be sure to visit the Jefferson County History & Art Center while you are out and about exploring! Remember, we have free admission!

CANCELLED! 😞Unfortunately, due to wind and the band needing to travel, tonight’s Tunes & Tales concert featuring Billy F...
10/16/2026

CANCELLED! 😞

Unfortunately, due to wind and the band needing to travel, tonight’s Tunes & Tales concert featuring Billy Fortune Unit Bluegrass has been cancelled. Also, out of an abundance of caution for the band’s instruments, we believe this is the right move. Thank you for your understanding!

We hope to reschedule this performance in the future.

We still have one final Tunes & Tales event this season on Sunday, October 25, at 2:30 p.m., featuring the Columbus Mandolin Orchestra. We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of great music!

UPDATE: Unfortunately this has been cancelled due to weather. We hope to reschedule pending band availability. Thank you...
10/16/2026

UPDATE: Unfortunately this has been cancelled due to weather. We hope to reschedule pending band availability. Thank you for understanding.

We are looking forward to Tunes & Tales tonight, are you??

A few things to remember if you plan to attend:
🟢 This installment of Tunes & Tales with Billy Fortune Unit Bluegrass will be outside, in front of the History & Art Center at 615 W First Street. SO, please bring lawn chairs. We will have a few chairs from our meeting room but once they are gone, they’re gone!

🟢 Since it is outside and we are officially in fall, please plan accordingly! We recommend dressing in layers. Looks like it’ll be about 50 degrees.

🟢 Restrooms will be available in the building. While you’re inside, stop and see our new exhibit “Jefferson County Creative People!”

🟢 Refreshments begin at 5:30pm and the concert will start promptly at 6:00pm! Admission is FREE!

Have any questions? Give us a call at 812-265-2335!

See you tonight! 🪕🪕🪕

Did you know that the Jefferson County Historical Society receives no funding from the City of Madison or Jefferson Coun...
10/14/2026

Did you know that the Jefferson County Historical Society receives no funding from the City of Madison or Jefferson County? While we occasionally receive limited funding through grants, we do not receive ongoing financial support from local government or Jefferson County taxpayers.

As your county historical society, we work hard to preserve, collect, and share the history of our community. We have some exciting plans in the works for 2027, and we can’t wait to share them with you! But to make these ideas a reality, we need your support.

In the coming weeks, we will be releasing our 2027 sponsorship package, offering opportunities for businesses and individuals to invest in local history and help us continue serving our community.

Interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation? Please email our Associate Director, Jared Anderson, at [email protected]. He would love to work with you to explore how you can make an impact!

We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors who made our work possible in 2026. Please join us in recognizing and thanking these wonderful supporters!

Our 2026 sponsors:
🟢 Jan Vethrus
🟢 Royer Corporation
🟢 Dennis and Diane Munier
🟢 Madison Music Movement
🟢 Daniel and Jessica Butler
🟢 Friendship State Bank
🟢 German American Bank
🟢 James Olson
🟢 Karen Modisett
🟢 Tom and Mary Eckert
🟢 Meyer Foods

Born in Madison, Elmer Griffith Sulzer was a pioneer in radio broadcasting, an educator, and an authority on railroad hi...
10/14/2026

Born in Madison, Elmer Griffith Sulzer was a pioneer in radio broadcasting, an educator, and an authority on railroad history throughout the region. Sulzer was the son of Marcus Sulzer, who served as Madison’s 22nd and 24th mayor and also represented the area in the Indiana General Assembly. Coming from a family with a connection to public service, Elmer would make his own mark in education, broadcasting, and historical scholarship.

From 1946 to 1952, Elmer Sulzer headed the broadcasting program at the University of Kentucky, where he also directed the university’s marching band. In 1954, he moved to Indiana University in Bloomington to organize its Department of Radio and Television and establish its radio and television services.

His influence extended throughout the broadcasting industry. He helped Lexington radio station WLAP secure approval for a 5,000-watt power rating in 1950 and pioneered educational radio listening centers in Kentucky. He also held ownership interests in radio stations in Madison, Jeffersonville, and Louisville.

Sulzer’s interests extended well beyond radio. An avid railroad historian, he authored numerous books and articles about early railroading in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. His works included Ghost Railroads of Tennessee. He was also a calliopist, performing aboard eight different showboats traveling the Ohio River.

His accomplishments earned recognition in both Indiana and Kentucky. Upon retiring from Indiana University, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, and he was also honored as a Kentucky Colonel.

Elmer G. Sulzer passed away at the age of 72 in Sarasota, Florida. Though his career took him far beyond Madison, his story began here, connecting our community to the history of broadcasting, higher education, and railroad preservation. He and many other Sulzer family members are buried in the Jewish section of Springdale Cemetery!

At the Jefferson County Historical Society, we are proud to share the stories of the people who helped shape our community and whose contributions reached far beyond Jefferson County. We look forward to continuing to share stories with you!

Do you have plans for Friday, October 16 at 6:00pm? Come learn about the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival as shared by th...
10/13/2026

Do you have plans for Friday, October 16 at 6:00pm? Come learn about the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival as shared by the Billy Fortune Unit Bluegrass group! Music and history combined to create a great evening.

🔴 We encourage people to bring lawn chairs as this concert will be outside of the History & Art Center by our historic railroad station and fountain.

🟢 Come early at 5:30pm for refreshments before getting settled for the concert!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J8u2ded3x/?mibextid=wwXIfr

See you Friday! 🎶🪕

Have you completed our Architectural Treasure Hunt yet? There’s still time to participate! 🏘️Our scavenger hunt ends thi...
10/13/2026

Have you completed our Architectural Treasure Hunt yet? There’s still time to participate! 🏘️

Our scavenger hunt ends this Friday, October 16! Be sure to submit your completed entries to the Jefferson County Historical Society by 3:30 p.m. Friday to be entered into a drawing for a $50 prize.

Get out, explore Madison’s historic architecture, and discover some of the buildings that make our community so special! 🔍🔍

Thank you to Madison Main Street for partnering with us on this fun way to celebrate our local history and architecture!

100 years ago today, on October 10, 1926, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees to win their first World...
10/10/2026

100 years ago today, on October 10, 1926, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees to win their first World Series championship. And right in the middle of this historic moment was one of our own: Madison, Indiana’s Tommy Thevenow!

Born in Madison on September 6, 1903, Thomas Joseph Thevenow made it to the major leagues as a shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. During the 1926 World Series, he faced a Yankees team loaded with legendary talent, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

The 1926 World Series was a matchup between two baseball powerhouses. The Yankees, led by Ruth and Gehrig, were seeking their fourth World Series title, while the Cardinals were making just their second appearance in the Fall Classic. The Yankees took an early lead in the series, but the Cardinals fought back, setting up a winner-take-all Game 7 at Yankee Stadium on October 10. In front of a packed crowd, St. Louis edged New York 3–2 to claim the franchise’s first World Series championship!

Thevenow played a memorable role in the series. In Game 2, he hit an inside-the-park home run after Babe Ruth struggled to field the ball in right field. He finished the series with 10 hits in 24 at-bats, helping the Cardinals capture the championship. The final moments of Game 7 became part of baseball lore. With the Yankees trailing, Babe Ruth attempted to steal second base and was caught for the final out, sealing the Cardinals’ victory.

A century later, we’re celebrating Tommy Thevenow and his place in baseball history. After his major league career, he returned home to Madison, where he operated a grocery store and remained connected to the community. From the streets of Madison to the biggest stage in baseball, Tommy Thevenow is a hometown hero worth remembering! ⚾️ ⚾️ ⚾️

Address

615 West First Street
Madison, IN
47250

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 3:30pm
Thursday 10am - 3:30pm
Friday 10am - 3:30pm
Saturday 10am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+18124933844

Website

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