4th Sunday Open Houses for Auglaize County’s Anniversary Year of 2023,

Many of the county’s historical societies and museums will continue the 4th Sunday Open Houses for Auglaize County’s Anniversary Year of 2023, with numerous sites open for tours every 4th Sunday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m., through October. The first 4th Sunday is this weekend, on May 28.

Because of the county’s 175^th birthday, the anniversary committee will offer a passport program, with prizes awarded at the end of October.  Passports will be available at participating local museums this Sunday.  Local residents and visitors are invited to pick up a passport (limit two per immediate family) at the first site at which they stop. They are then invited to visit at least five (5) museums/sites between May 28 and October 22, getting their passport signed at each location. THEN they are also invited to take a selfie at two (2) or more of the county’s many historical markers-Ohio Historical markers, National Register markers, or local historical markers-sending those images to auglaizecountyhistory1848@gmail.com (with their name). Passports must be dropped off and selfies submitted by October 22.

Those who visit at least five museums and take two selfies at markers between May 28 and October  22 will then have their names placed in a drawing for one of three gift baskets, each worth more than $150. The baskets will contain 175^th commemorative coins, books, games, gift cards and certificates to local restaurants and shops, etc.

The following sites will participate in Sunday’s countywide open house:

ACHS’ Wapakoneta Museum, 206 West Main Street, Wapakoneta;

Cridersville Historical Society, 111 West Sugar Street, Cridersville;

Minster Historical Society Museum, 112 W. Fourth Street, Minster (1-3 pm);

New Bremen Historic Association’s Luelleman House, 120 North Main Street, New Bremen (1-3 pm); and

NBHA’s Pape House, 236 North Main Street, New Bremen (1-3 pm);

New Knoxville Historical Society, 107 East German Street, New Knoxville;

and Uniopolis Historical Society, East Ohio Street (State Route 67), Uniopolis.

States Historical Society administrator Rachel Barber,” We hope that many local residents will stop by and visit these sites on Sunday, making an afternoon of learning more about our county’s history  during our anniversary year. We especially appreciate the collaboration of many of our village historical societies in making history more readily available to our residents and guests alike.”

For more information about the 175^th Passport Program, please contact auglaizecounty1848@gmail.com or 419/738-9328. The Auglaize County Historical Society is also on Facebook.