The tornado on May 7, 2024, disrupted many lives and caused extensive damage to a large swath of the City of Greenville. Although life has returned to normal for most, the destruction that was caused is still evident. Buildings have yet to be repaired in the City Park, roofs remain covered with blue tarps awaiting roofing crews to become available to make repairs, and some are still waiting for trees to be completely cleared.
One building that was repaired and reopens on July 26, 2024, is at the Garst Museum. The museum suffered major damage to its Lowell Thomas and Americana Wing and was forced to close that portion of the campus to the public for three months. While there was no damage to the exhibits, the structure had to be repaired after one of the large trees in front of the museum on North Broadway fell and damaged the building.
Museum staff and volunteers had to move the exhibits to allow the construction crew to come in and fix the damage.
The work has been completed, the exhibits have been put back into place, and are ready for visitors.
What will visitors see when they visit the newly reopened area?
Lowell Thomas lived just north of Greenville in Woodington for a portion of his life. He went on to become an innovator in how the news was delivered. Much of what you see from news crews today can be and has been attributed to Thomas. The exhibits at Garst Museum give insight into who Thomas was and his contributions to society. Thomas was well known for his book, With Lawrence in Arabia, which helped create the legendary figure that T.E. Lawrence became.
The Garst Museum’s wing also features a look into what America was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Visitors can go from room to room and see the fashions of the day. They can visit an early 20th-century bedroom and discover how the people in our community lived, and they can visit the dining room and kitchen to learn how they came together as a family. A tour of the Americana Wing will allow one to discover how our community and our country have progressed over the past 100 years or more.
Come visit the Garst Museum during the annual Gathering at Garst festival and rediscover the Lowell Thomas exhibit and Americana Wing. If you have never been to Garst Museum, this is the perfect opportunity to see all of the exhibits, which also includes an incredible glimpse into the life of Darke County native and premier entertainer Annie Oakley, as well as the Pioneer Wing, Village Wing, Crossroads of Destiny, and Keepers of Freedom.
Garst Museum will be open throughout the festival with hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The museum’s normal operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors 60+, $9 for youth (6-17). Become a Darke County Historical Society member and get free admission and other benefits throughout the year.
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