History Center at Marion Public Library

08/27/2026

Want to help us preserve Grant County's local history?

Come help us clean our display cases and museum galleries through United Way's Day of Action 2026. Learn more about the History Center's work and exhibits while making your own mark!

📅 Date: Friday, September 18
🕰️ Time: 1-5PM (or until work is completed)
🌐 Follow the link in the comments to register!

United Way of Grant County

08/27/2026

The Indiana Room & Museum will open at 1 pm on August 29th. The library will open at 11 am.

08/21/2026

Many Marion residents have fond memories of Sutter's Dairy Products. 🥛🐄

This long-standing Marion business was founded in 1929 by John G. Sutter as Marion Pure Milk Co. These photos of Sutter's are from our Chronicle-Tribune photo collection.

Do you have memories of Sutter's? Share with us in the comments!

08/21/2026

Marion Public Library has joined the Adventure Backpack program, thanks to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The small backpack comes with a letter to enter state parks, books to help you identify native birds and wild edible plants, as well as a compass and mini binoculars. Extras like camp sites, fishing licenses, or museums are not included.

08/19/2026

Coming to the History Center in September: Auto Indiana! 🚗 🛻

This traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society takes visitors on a ride through Indiana's rich automotive past. Visitors to this exhibit are invited to also view current displays on Marion’s Crosley factory and the Indiana Truck Corporation at the History Center.

Auto Indiana explores the mark Indiana's inventors and innovators such as Elwood Haynes and Ralph Teetor and automakers such as Studebaker and Duesenberg left on the industry—and vice versa.

The exhibit also illuminates ties between the automobiles and the development of many other economic opportunities for the "Crossroads of America," such as the iron, steel and glass businesses. In addition, it explores how the automobile became part of the American Dream and popular culture, from movies to making personal memories.

Finally, the exhibit allows guests to gaze down the road ahead for Hoosiers, from the environmental impact of automobiles to a look at manufacturing today.

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

In the past week, there have been many mentions of the historic 1913 flood. This disaster in March 1913 set many records for water levels, causing destruction and fatalities across the Midwest and East Coast.

While no direct fatalities were reported from flooding in Grant County, a large amount of damage was caused. Notably, the Cumberland covered bridge in Matthews was washed half a mile downstream. It was later hauled back to its proper place, a process that took two weeks to complete.

08/06/2026

The History Center team has been happy to assist the Grant County Historical Society with the research for their Legacy of Labor Walking Tour at Marion's IOOF Cemetery!

See history come alive as fifteen local interpreters tell their stories!

Saturday, August 29th 2026 at Marion IOOF Cemetery "Legacy of Labor" Cemetery Walking Tour

Ticketed event - rain or shine - $15 - help support the Marion IOOF and learn about Grant County's labor history.

Tickets can also be purchased at the Indiana Room of Marion Public Library

08/04/2026

As a reminder, this presentation on The Canton Glass Co.—originally scheduled for tomorrow—has been canceled.

To view artifacts and learn more about the company's history, come visit the History Center!

We regret to inform you that the presentation "The Canton Glass Co.: Focusing Mostly on the Marion Years, 1890-1902" has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

If you would like to learn more about the history of The Canton Glass Co., we invite you to visit our Indiana History & Genealogy Room for further information. You can also check out our museum's Gas Boom exhibit to see artifacts from The Canton Glass Co. and other local glass factories from the gas boom era.