Wayne County Historical Museum

04/17/2026

04/13/2026

This week's Wayne County Collects theme is and we've chosen one of my favorite boxes.

If you know me, you know I love a pretty box! This gem features 4 kangaroos in an embrace. If you look through the photos, you will see somewhat hidden features like the mob of joeys and a self portrait of the artist who made this piece. The best part is when you open the lid to find a pair of boxing gloves! This little box was created by Harmony Kingdom UK. The company continues to make the most beautiful box figurines.

We figured everyone deserves a little bit of whimsy to start off their week!

04/03/2026

Wayne County in the Gilded Age: Wealth, Work, and the Price of Progress

This exhibit explores a transformative period in local history, when Richmond and Wayne County emerged as a center of innovation, manufacturing, and remarkable economic growth in the decades following the Civil War. As part of the broader Industrial Revolution, this era saw the rise of prominent local industrialists and entrepreneurs whose enterprises helped shape the region’s identity and prosperity.

Through immersive displays of period furnishings, fashion, decorative arts, and artifacts from both home and workplace, the exhibit brings to life the elegance and ambition that defined the era’s outward appearance. Visitors will encounter the stories of well-known local families and businesses alongside the retail environments, social customs, and material culture that reflected newfound wealth and status.

At the same time, the exhibit offers a balanced and thoughtful interpretation of the forces that made such prosperity possible. In an age before income and inheritance taxes, labor protections, and workplace safety regulations, the rapid accumulation of wealth often stood in stark contrast to the realities faced by workers, including long hours, unsafe conditions, and child labor. By examining both the brilliance and the burdens of the period, the exhibit reveals the meaning behind the term “gilded”—a shining surface layered over more complex and often challenging truths.

By connecting national themes to the lived experiences of Wayne County residents, this exhibit will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of how this pivotal era shaped the community we know today, offering both inspiration and reflection on the enduring relationship between progress, prosperity, and equity.

At the same time, the exhibit offers a balanced and thoughtful interpretation of the forces that made such prosperity possible. In an age before income and inheritance taxes, labor protections, and workplace safety regulations, the rapid accumulation of wealth often stood in stark contrast to the realities faced by workers, including long hours, unsafe conditions, and child labor. By examining both the brilliance and the burdens of the period, the exhibit reveals the meaning behind the term “gilded”—a shining surface layered over more complex and often challenging truths.

03/09/2026

This week's Wayne County Collects theme is and we've chosen one of the medals awarded to blacksmith William Wedekind of Hagerstown.

During the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago, William Wedekind presented an astonishing number of his horseshoes and exquisite handmade tools used in his profession. He won a 1st place gold medal for best workmanship, 2nd place silver medal for quantity of items displayed, and a 3rd place bronze medal for the latest cuts in shoes for gaiting horses.



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03/02/2026

This week's Wayne County Collects theme is and we've chosen our show globe.

A show globe is a glass vessel of various shapes and sizes containing a colorful liquid. It has been a symbol of pharmacy from 17th century England to the early 20th century in the US. The colored liquid they contain can represent several things. In ours, the red indicates that illness has spread across the town. If it were green, it would let people know that all is well. Once spring comes along and the incidents of flu and Covid are reduced, we'll change the color back to green.

This week's theme was tough. We don't have much in the way of liquids in the museum. We're in the business of keeping liquids out and away from our artifacts! ☠️

02/27/2026

Docent Appreciation Day is this Saturday, February 28. Help us honor our museum tour guides by being our guest this Saturday FREE of charge! All admission fees will be waived, so bring your friends and family to the museum!

02/16/2026

This week's Wayne County Collects theme is and we've chosen one of the swords from our collection.

This particular sword came from the Middle East via Ethiopia to the US. The accession number indicates it is part of Julia Gaar's original collection. Unfortunately, the information on it is scant. According to our records, this sword belonged to an ancestor of Haile Selassie, though there is no way to prove that. The embossed Arabic translates to "God, protect me when I come".

I'm always fascinated by arms and armor and this sword is no different. It's possible I have featured it on Wayne County Collects before, despite having a good collection of swords, both functional and merely decorative. My favorite part about the sword is that it has been used. There are many pits along the steel blade, but no way to tell exactly how it was used. It could have been combat, traversing through thick vegetation, or chopping wood. I let my imagination go back to 1999 and Oded Fehr in The Mummy. IYKYK.

02/16/2026

The 2026 Valentine's Renaissance Madrigal Dinner was a tremendous success! I appreciate the hard work of the event committee, museum staff, and volunteers to make the evening memorable. Special thanks go to the Community Choristers of Richmond, directed by Dr. Alisa Clapp-Itnyre, and the IUE Richmond Community Chorale, directed by Dr. Jessica Raposo Coleman, who provided the very excellent entertainment. The evening was made complete by our very excellent King and Queen, Shane Edington and Beth Boyd, and our hilarious Court Jester, Austin Haus. I also appreciate the local craftspeople who offered guests unique locally-produced items to purchase from our Mideval Marketplace. I am in awe of all of you - your talent, your devotion to the work of the museum, and the wonderful people that you are! The event was a complete sell-out and an evening that was enjoyed by everyone who participated. I couldn't be more pleased!

02/14/2026

Wayne County Historical Museum @

02/14/2026