What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5:30pm Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 9am - 5:30pm Saturday 11am - 4pm

History Center at Marion Public Library

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History Center at Marion Public Library

The History Center is a local history museum and research room in Marion, IN. Come visit!

05/28/2026

Come take your photo with our adolescent Rhoetosaurus bench, on loan from Winterland, Inc!

05/26/2026

On Saturday, June 20 at 1:00 PM, the History Center at Marion Public Library is hosting Torriana McNair for the presentation “The Legends, the Legacies, the Heart: Black History Stories in Our Chronicle-Tribune Photo Collection.” This presentation will be held in the Forrest Room, located on the third floor of the History Center.

McNair will share stories from Marion’s Black history, uncovered through her research of photographs in the History Center’s Chronicle-Tribune photo collection and oral interviews with individuals in the Marion community. This research has been conducted in her capacity as the Digital Collections and Research Coordinator for an ongoing project at the History Center, researching and documenting the stories behind Black history photographs in this extensive collection.

This project is funded through a Heritage Preservation Grant awarded to the Friends of the Marion Public Library and Museum in August 2025. Heritage Support Grants are provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment Inc. Several local organizations have generously provided additional fundraising support: Atlas Foundry Foundation, Save Our Stories, Grant County Historical Society, and the men’s group of St. James Lutheran Church.

This presentation includes descriptions of violence and is not recommended for children.

05/23/2026

Just a reminder—the History Center is closed today through Monday! We will reopen for normal hours on Tuesday.

05/22/2026

Found in our Chronicle-Tribune photo collection: these high school graduation photos from 1986. 🎓 Just in time for their 40th anniversary!

We believe the majority of these are from Mississinewa High School (though other schools are likely represented as well), but do not have names to identify those pictured. If you recognize anyone, please leave a comment on the photo to help us out! ✍️

05/21/2026

It’s race month! 🏎️🏁

The first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track was on August 19th, 1909, but was broken up in the afternoon following a fatal crash that claimed 5 lives. Speedway management decided it was necessary to pave the crushed stone track, which took 3.2 million bricks, earning the track its "Brickyard" nickname.

Grant County had a presence in the early race years: Harry C. Knight of Jonesboro entered the first 500-mile Memorial Day race in 1911, driving a Westcott automobile with a Rutenber 6-cylinder motor made by the Western Motor Company of Marion, Indiana.

If you’d like to learn more about the early years of the Indianapolis 500, be sure to race on by the circulation desk at the Marion Public Library to check out this display. (Located directly to the left of Garfield, under the staircase.)

05/20/2026

The History Center will be closed Saturday through Monday, including both our museum and Indiana History Room. 🏛️ The Marion Public Library will remain open on Saturday.

We will reopen for our normal hours on Tuesday, from 9:00 am-5:30 pm.

05/19/2026

Found in our Chronicle-Tribune photo collection - April 26, 1957 📷🗞️

This photo shows a group of local farmers who noticed gas missing from their farm's bulk tank 1957. The article details how they set a trap to catch the thieves, two teenagers who were taken into custody by Sheriff Cary Myers and Deputy Bryant Bouslog (also pictured).

05/12/2026

We loved seeing so many friendly faces at our History Hike on the Riverwalk on Saturday! Thank you to everyone who made it out—we're looking forward to doing it again.

We want to say a special thank you to SOS Marion for partnering in this event, and to Ashley's Ice Cream Cafe, City of Marion, IN - Local Government, Marion Indiana Parks & Recreation, and Riverside Community FCU for their support in the event.

05/11/2026

Have you wondered if you had a Revolutionary War Patriot in your family? Thought about joining Daughters of the Revolution or Sons of the Revolution societies? With America's 250th birthday coming up now is the time to find those elusive ancestors. DAR members will be in the Indiana Room to help you research every Wednesday from 1 to 3 pm.

05/08/2026

Drake may not be at our History Hike tomorrow, but we hope you will. ☎️

📍Start: Downtown riverwalk, across from Riverside Community Federal Credit Union (where you can park!)
📅 Date: Saturday, May 9
⌚ Time: 10 AM - 12 PM

SOS Marion

05/07/2026

Did you know this fun fact about Marion's medical history?

Join us this Saturday, May 9, from 10am-12pm to learn more about Alice Kemmer and two other women who shaped Marion's medical history, plus much more about the history of our downtown riverfront!

Parking is available at Riverside Community Federal Credit Union, at 101 N Washington St. The first station will be located on the Mississinewa Riverwalk directly across Spencer Ave.

SOS Marion

Address

600 S Washington Street
Marion, IN
46953

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm
Saturday	11am - 4pm

Telephone

+17656682900

Website

https://www.marion.lib.in.us/local-history

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