Museum to Develop Historic Crossroads Center

The Marshall County Historical Society was a grant recipient of a 2005 Transportation Enhancement Award (TEA) in the amount of $680,000 for the Historic Crossroads Center. Through donations from the community and society members we have purchased the buildings and are committed to raise funds for the 20% grant match.

There is still a need for donations to help with the match and the design of new exhibits which will highlight the four major transportation routes that shaped the geography and economy of our region. Contributions can be made towards this project by contacting any staff person at the museum, member of the board of trustees, or calling (574) 936-2306. If you would like to pledge your support you may also mail or e-mail a pledge form to the museum.

Fifty years ago the Marshall County Historical Society developed a statement of purpose which would be to collect, preserve, study, and exhibit those objects that will serve to illustrate the history of Marshall County. The organization would also stimulate interest in the history of this county through educational programs.

As we have grown, so has the possibilities to improve our work to reflect that statement of purpose. The Historic Crossroads Center will educate the local and broader public on the transportation heritage these routes represent; not only to Marshall County but the state and nation.

Patrons who visit the museum have a variety of interests and the expansion will offer more diverse exhibits and an accessible research and genealogy department.

The TEA grant funds will allow the museum to:

Create many interactive exhibits to enhance visitor participation and draw youth interest.
Institute meeting rooms for programs.
Move the research and genealogy library to the main floor for better accessibility and increase work space for volunteers.
Attract a new diversified group of patrons who have an interest in historic transportation routes.
Involve Boy Scouts in earning merit badges because of their historical involvement with the Lincoln Highway.
Increase school tours and expand students' knowledge of Marshall County and Indiana as told through transportation.
Increase visitor tourism and dollars in Marshall County from travelers driving the historic routes.

The following is a brief summary of the historic routes in Marshall County with statewide or national importance.

Michigan Road (Old 31)
Time period: 1826-1900
Communities: Argos, Plymouth, Lapaz, Walnut Hill
Townships: Walnut, Center, North
Statewide: From Madison on the Ohio River to Michigan City; Indiana's first commissioned road
Topics: Pioneer settlement, organization of county, early county/community growth, early surveying, farming, early architecture (cabins, taverns, etc.) horse travel, county as relates to statewide migration routes. Michigan Road as underground railroad route, pre-history and environment. Connect to State's 2016 Communities and Underground Railroad initiatives.

Yellowstone Trail
Time period: 1912-1930
Communities: Bourbon, Inwood, Plymouth, Donaldson
Townships: Bourbon, Center, West
National: From Massachusetts to Washington via Yellowstone National Park, first proposed transcontinental route
Topics: Early automobile travel including lodging, etc., movement toward transcontinental highways, county relationship to route and other states on route, forgotten road(s) national park movement, local Yellowstone Club

Lincoln Highway (Old 30)
Time Period: 1924-1950s
Communities: Bourbon, Inwood, Plymouth, Donaldson
Townships: Bourbon, Center, West
National: From New York to California, first completed transcontinental route
Topics: Early auto travel, choosing the route in county, road advertising, lodging & cafes, relationship to route and other states on route. Boy Scouts, President Lincoln, relationship to Pennsylvania RR in county, roadside architecture. Connect to National Park Service initiative on Lincoln Highway.

Grand Army of the Republic-Highway 6
Time Period: 1931-present
Communities: Bremen, Lapaz
Townships: German, North, Polk
National: From Massachusetts to California
Topics: Union Army/Civil War, depression era/road building, Chicago Fair, later auto travel and lodging, roadside attractions and advertising, roadside architecture. Connect to Bremen Depot relocation/restoration project.