The Johnson County Museum of History, located in downtown Franklin Indiana, houses over 20,000 objects, photographs, and documents relating to Johnson County’s past and present. The collection includes four permanent exhibitions, a gallery for art and other temporary exhibits, an 1830s cabin located next to the museum, and a genealogy and local history library.
Located just two blocks north of the County Courthouse the former Masonic Temple Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is waiting for you to come and explore the past of Johnson County. Originally located in a small room at the county courthouse, the museum relocated to the Suckow home in 1963. The galleries and collection were located at the home until 1989 when the Johnson County Government and Historical Society purchased the former Masonic Temple at 135 North Main Street in Franklin, the museum’s current home.
The museum has programs throughout the year for you to enjoy, from music to art to history, something for everyone to enjoy when visiting the museum.
Exhibits cover a wide range of interests from the “A Century of Dolls: the Beula Mardis Collection” which was the pride of Longtime Johnson county resident Beula Mae Mardis and donated to the museum when she passed away at 104 years of age. She had collected dolls for a lifetime and donated the 4,000 dolls to the museum.
The Brandwine dollhouse has also been on display at the museum. It took 2 years to build and includes 3,000 hand-cut shingles and 8,000 hand-laid bricks and has working electric lights. The house measures 76 inches wide by 40 inches tall and 28 inches deep. The Brandywine is on loan to the museum but perhaps it will be back someday if you don’t get to see it now.
Permanent exibits at the museum inlcude Early Inhabitants: Native Americans & European Traders; Pioneer Settlers of Johnson County; Suddenly Heroes: Indiana Infantry in the Civil War; Victorian Life; Serving County and Country; The Fabulous 50′s; and a display of Artwork.
On the grounds is the 1830′s cabin for you to see and learn how people lived prior to our current requirements in housing!
There is also antique farm machinery housed at Sawmill Barn in Johnson County Park. Many of these artifacts are on display in the museum’s galleries.
The genealogy and local history library contains a wealth of research materials, many of which are original documents, relating to Johnson County and surrounding regions.
The Johnson County Museum and Genealogy library are open year-round,
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, and Saturdays 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We are closed on all official Johnson County holidays. The Museum is also open every Saturday from 10 – 3.
Admission is free of charge. The museum is wheelchair accessible from the entrance on the north side of the building, and has elevator service to all levels.
Contact:
135 North Main Street
Franklin, IN 46131
ph: 317-346-4500
fax: 317-736-5451
bcundiff@co.johnson.in.us
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