John Hay Center

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John Hay Center We are the John Hay Center, the face of the Washington County Historical Society.

The Stevens Memorial Museum serves as the hub for the John Hay Center museum complex. With three floors of items unique to Washington County and her people, our collection makes one proud of the community. Within our Pioneer Village, we showcase some of the oldest structures from Washington County: a church, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and several houses. We have an antebellum store with a post office and, of course, our center's namesake and National Landmark, the birthplace and boyhood home of John Milton Hay.Within the Village "garage" we model transportation over the ages, and pay homage to the strong agricultural heritage we have here in Southern Indiana. Everything from a buckboard carriage, to a Model T, as well as a hand-cranked corn grinder are displayed for our patrons.Anchoring the other end of our grounds is The Depot Railroad Museum--home of an HO-gauge model lay-out of Salem, Pekin, Campbellsburg, Smedley and Harristown circa early 1960's. The Depot houses multiple pieces of memorabilia pertaining to Washington County's integral role in bringing the Monon Railroad into the world. Over time, pieces have been added to honor the L&N, the CSX, and many other railroads--a delight to rail fans young and old.

This incredible aerial shot shows Salem as it was in 1935! The photo was taken looking southeast with the Square in th...
10/22/2026



This incredible aerial shot shows Salem as it was in 1935! The photo was taken looking southeast with the Square in the center. You can spot the back-end of Lyon's Bloc, the old Salem High School (where Beacon Bank is today), Smith Cabinet Factory, and of course all that empty land along Old State Road 60!
The image comes from an effort put forth by the 309th Observation Squadron who sent pilots out to take aerial images for town planning and structural mapping. The Squadron partnered with the Indianapolis Sunday Star to feature the photos they took.

The caption on this one was: "SALEM, Ind., as it appears to a bird, flying southeastward. (Photo by Master Sargeant H.E. Armstead and Lieutenant F. W. Sommer, pilot -- 309th Observation Squadron, U.S.R.)"

Discover more photos like these, and about the buildings featured in them, at the John Hay Center!

This week's throwback is this amazing photo of a train sitting at the old Pekin Monon Depot from around 1900. Pekin wa...
10/15/2026



This week's throwback is this amazing photo of a train sitting at the old Pekin Monon Depot from around 1900.

Pekin was the first Washington County town to be added to the New Albany-Salem rail line as it crept up from Louisville. The original Pekin depot was finished in 1850, and the last was built in 1915. The little depot in Pekin saw hundreds of trains coming and going, toting people and goods. It even saw several special trains come through to specifically deliver massive crowds for the famous Pekin Fourth of July Celebration!
The last Pekin Depot sat nestled diagonally across the tracks from Sullivan's Feed Mill until it closed in 1970, and the building was torn down in 1977.

Many pictures of this depot and this lovely town reside at The Depot Railroad Museum and the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society, both located at 206 S College Ave. in Salem, Indiana.
You can explore those photos and more, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm!

Another great annual Halloween event is coming up!WSLM Breaking News's Boo Bash is happening Saturday, October 24th from...
10/15/2026

Another great annual Halloween event is coming up!

WSLM Breaking News's Boo Bash is happening Saturday, October 24th from 4pm to 6pm on the John Hay Center grounds!
Take at look at their flyer here for more information, and mark your calendar for some awesome Halloween fun!

It is that time of the year again, so the Washington County Indiana's Tourism Commission is having their annual Pumpkin ...
10/15/2026

It is that time of the year again, so the Washington County Indiana's Tourism Commission is having their annual Pumpkin Walk!

Submitted pumpkins will be on display in the Pioneer Village here at the John Hay Center from 4pm to 8pm on October 24th.

Check out this flyer to learn more about how to participate!

This week's falls on a very special day!Today is John Hay's 188th birthday!John Milton Hay was born here in Salem, Ind...
10/08/2026

This week's falls on a very special day!

Today is John Hay's 188th birthday!

John Milton Hay was born here in Salem, Indiana at what is now the John Hay Birthplace on October 8, 1838 to Dr. Charles and Helen Hay. The Hay family spent about a decade here in the county before moving to Illinois in 1841. Hay would go on to attend law school at Brown University, and then would transition to becoming one of Abraham Lincoln's private secretaries along with John Nicolay. He grew to be rather close with Lincoln, even being at his bedside when Lincoln passed after being assassinated.
Hay's career in politics did not end there though. He would go on to work for six more presidents, including serving as Ambassador to England and Secretary of State, he assisted with legislature to create the Panama Canal, and the Open Door Policy in China. He was also a very accomplished writer, authoring over twenty books in his lifetime and countless poems, speeches, and news articles.

Hay is first pictured here at age 19, then in 1902 at age 64 during his time as Secretary of State under Teddy Roosevelt.

John Hay would die July 1, 1905 during a family vacation in New Hampshire at the age of 66.

You can learn more details about Hay's life, as well as see many artifacts from him and his family, and tour the John Hay Birthplace right here at the John Hay Center!
Open Thursdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.

We’re all set up for the second day of Old Settlers Days 2026! Stop by our booth and explore some great biographies and ...
10/04/2026

We’re all set up for the second day of Old Settlers Days 2026!
Stop by our booth and explore some great biographies and histories, keepsakes, souvenirs, and WCHS memberships.

Visit Old Settlers Days at the John Hay Center today from 10am to 4pm!

10/03/2026

🇺🇸 Salem history, past and present!

Abraham Lincoln stopped for a photo beside the historic “Lincoln Table” at the museum with some familiar faces from the City of Salem:

• Justin Green, Mayor of Salem
• Danny R. Libka, 1st District City Council
• Sally Hattabaugh, City of Salem Clerk-Treasurer

What a fun way to bring together Salem’s history and the people serving our community today!

Be sure to visit the museum during Old Settlers Days and see the Lincoln Table for yourself while exploring the people, places, and stories that are part of Washington County’s history.

Check out the schedule for the Old Settlers Days Festival happening this weekend at the John Hay Center!
10/02/2026

Check out the schedule for the Old Settlers Days Festival happening this weekend at the John Hay Center!

Historic Brick Street Tours are back for Old Settlers Days 2026!John Hay Center staff will lead you along one of the mos...
10/01/2026

Historic Brick Street Tours are back for Old Settlers Days 2026!

John Hay Center staff will lead you along one of the most historic streets in Salem, East Market Street! This street is lined with historic bricks, incredible homes, and stories ranging from educational to murderous.
Tours will be available twice a day on both days.

Saturday: 11:30 am & 2:30pm
Sunday: 11:30 am & 2:30pm

You can sign up for a tour by calling us at (812) 883-6495 or emailing us at [email protected] either today or tomorrow. Or sign-up by stopping by the WCHS booth in the Stevens Memorial Museum parking lot during the festival!

In honor of Old Settlers Days taking place this weekend, we wanted to reflect on past festivals and those who helped s...
10/01/2026



In honor of Old Settlers Days taking place this weekend, we wanted to reflect on past festivals and those who helped start this beloved tradition!

According to files in the Stevens Memorial Museum, and the Centennial History written by Warder Stevens, the first Old Settlers Days took place September 29, 1875. It was a much smaller affair, focused on gathering the elderly pioneers of Washington County so they could share their stories of settler life. They met in Hobbs' Grove, which sat one and a half miles northeast of Salem near Canton Road. The meeting featured guests like George Beck, John W. Reyman, John L. Menaugh, John and James Thompson, Joseph Denny, and more. They also displayed treasures from the time, ranging from a boot-jack gifted to William Henry Harrison by Judge Parker at Vincennes, a tomahawk and knife used by Micajah Calloway, and a section of log from an old pioneer fort.

The festival evolved as more pioneers began to pass, with meetings recounting those early days changing to picnics and dinners, to eventually becoming the festival we all know and love today. This photo shows a meeting held in 1900, featuring a wide array of pioneer descendants ranging from Mitchells to Berkeys to Martins to Colglaziers.
Times may change, and the festival may ebb and flow, but the goal remains the same: celebrate those who came before us and explore the stories and history they left behind.

Continue this tradition by visiting the Old Settlers Days Festival at The John Hay Center! Taking place on Saturday, October 3rd from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, October 4th from 10am to 4pm.

Address

307 E Market Street
Salem, IN
47167

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18128836495

Website

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