Click to watch the welcome video
Click on the different sections of the building and you'll find options to explore the museum through images, videos, and interactive elements!
Welcome to the Hendricks County Museum!
Exit to building exterior
TOP FLOOR - Adult's Bedroom, Children's Room, Bathroom
ANNEX - Central Normal College Room, Agriculture Room
MAIN FLOOR - Foyer, Sheriff's Office, Parlor Room, Late-1800s Kitchen, Mid-Century Kitchen, Military Room
GROUND FLOOR - Old Men's & Women's Jail
If you want you find a specific area of the museum, or go back to a room you saw earlier, click on the section you want to view.
Room Directory
Children's Room
Bathroom
Bedroom
Below are the different rooms on this floor. Click each room to see more.
Hallway
Top Floor
Main Floor
Click to see a photo gallery about the Bedroom
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Bedroom
Click to see a video about the Bedroom
This room reflects the lifestyle of adults in the late 1800s. The feather bed is typical of those used in the last half of the 19th century. It is higher off the floor than modern beds, keeping the sleeper away from cold drafts.
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Upstairs Bedroom
Bedroom
Click to see a photo gallery about the Children's Room
Click to see a video about the Children's Room
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Children's Room
The second floor has three rooms, which were bedrooms for the families. The museum has two of these rooms on the tour. The children’s room has many early toys that include trains, handmade dolls and china head dolls.
Children's Room
Click to see a photo from the Upstairs Hallway
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Upstairs Hallway
The upstairs hallway leads to the adult's bedroom, a children's room, and a bathroom. The hallway features several personal items, as well as a series of portraits painted by a former inmate at the Old Jail.
Upstairs Hallway
Click to see a photo of common 1800s-1900s Bathroom items
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Bathroom
The upstairs bathroom features several items that were used from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s.
Bathroom
Midcentury Kitchen
Late 1800's Kitchen
Parlor Room
Military Room
Sheriff's Office
Below are the different rooms on this floor. Click each room to see more.
Main Floor
Main Floor
Click to see a video about the Sheriff's Office
Click to see a photo gallery about the Sheriff's Office
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Sheriff's Office
The sheriff maintained his main office at the court house. On the weekends and evenings he used a room within the home. There are several items that belonged to former sheriffs.
Sheriff's Office
Click to see video about the Military Room
Click to see a photo gallery about the Military Room
This collection has many items from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. A major feature is the Civil War uniform of Col. Abel Streight who escaped from a southern prison camp and made his way home to Indiana.
Military Room
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Military Room
Click to see video about the Parlor Room
Click to see a photo gallery about the Parlor Room
30 families lived at this former Hendrick’s County Sheriff’s residence. The families brought their own furniture into the home. When the building was turned over to the Historical Society, the building was empty.
Parlor Room
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Parlor Room
Click to see video about the 1800s Kitchen
Click to see a photo gallery about the 1800s Kitchen
Some items in the late 1800s kitchen include: a tin bathtub, a cook stove that used wood or coals for fuel, a fire-less cooker, which was an early version of the crock pot, a dry sink and many kitchen utensils.
1800's Kitchen
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the 1800s Kitchen
Click to see video about the Midcentury Kitchen
Click to see a photo gallery about the Midcentury Kitchen
An early television amazes young people because it was so small. Fiesta dishes, as well as the autumn leaf pattern dishes, are displayed, which women bought from the “Jewel Tea” man a peddler who drove his truck to homes.
Midcentury Kitchen
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Midcentury Kitchen
Agriculture Room
Central Normal College Room
Below are the different rooms on this floor. Click each room to see more.
Annex
Main Floor
Click to see a photo gallery about the Central Normal College Room
Visit the Central Normal Room and learn about how it became Canterbury College in Danville, Indiana. Where did it originate? From Ladoga, Indiana!
Central Normal College
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Central Normal College Room
Click to see a video about the Agriculture Room
Click to see a photo gallery about the Agriculture Room
This exhibit changes every year. This display is about the history of Hendricks County Farms and Farming. Come learn about agriculture and farm life in our county!
Agriculture Room
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Agriculture Room
Click to read more about the Old Jails
Old Jail
Below are the different rooms on this floor. Click each room to see more.
Ground Floor
Main Floor
Click to see a photo gallery about the Old Jails
Click to see a video about the Old Jails
Hendricks County has had four jails in its history, each located in Danville. The first two were on North Washington St just north of the courthouse square. The third jail and Sheriff’s Residence was built in 1866 at 170 S. Washington St.
Old Jail
Click to see 360 Interactive tour of the Old Jails
The jail and Sheriff’s Residence (now the museum building) was built in 1866 at 170 S. Washington Street. The facility had two sections, one for women and one for men. The “Ladies” area had two cells, with a shower located in the rear of the cells. Generally, within a year the average number of women prisoners was between fifteen and twenty-five. The Men’s area contained four cells. Each cell contained two bunks, with wall brackets mounting two more above. Originally, hammocks were used as bedding. Mattresses were later provided to go on the steel racks. A shower was added to the women’s and men’s area when plumbing was added to the facility.
Portraits of former Sheriff Merle Funk and his wife, Ruth Funk. Merle was sheriff from 1962-1970 and lived in this house. The portraits of the family were painted by a former prisoner, Keith Wright, in 1968.
