WOOD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

OPERATION OF 27,000 SQ. FT. MUSEUM, HERB GARDEN, NATURE TRAILS AND NUMEROUS POINTS OF OUTDOOR INTEREST, ON A 50-ACRE SITE OWNED BY WOOD COUNTY. 1)EVENTS/EXHIBITS: THE MUSEUM HAS FIVE FEATURE EXHIBITS. "FOR COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE: PUBLIC CHARITY IN OHIO BY WAY OF THE POOR FARM" OPENED IN 2019. THE EXHIBIT WON FOUR AWARDS AND HAS BEEN THE BASIS FOR FIVE PUBLISHED ARTICLES. THIS EXHIBIT DEPICTS THE HISTORY OF OHIO'S POOR FARM SYSTEM AND INCLUDES MODERN PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEFFERY HALL OF ALL 88 OHIO COUNTY POOR FARM SITES. "ALLURE & ILLUSION: A ROSE-COLORED ROMANCE." SHOWCASING 40+ BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DRESSES ONCE WORN AT PAST WOOD COUNTY WEDDINGS, THIS EXHIBIT PRESENTS THE FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE CULTURE AND HOW MODERN IDEOLOGY IS CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO GET MARRIED AND STRIVE FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM. IT ALSO FEATURES FRANK KALAN HARLEQUIN ROMANCE COVER ART FROM BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY BROWNE POPULAR CULTURE LIBRARY. "ALLURE & ILLUSION: A ROSE COLORED ROMANCE." SHOWCASING 40+ BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DRESSES ONCE WORN AT PAST WOOD COUNTY WEDDINGS, THIS EXHIBIT PRESENTS THE FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE CULTURE AND HOW MODERN IDEOLOGY IS CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO GET MARRIED AND STRIVE FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM. IT ALSO FEATURES FRANK KALAN HARLEQUIN ROMANCE COVER ART FROM BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY BROWNE POPULAR CULTURE LIBRARY. "THE MARY & CARL BACH STORY" OPENED IN OCTOBER 2020. THIS EXHIBIT CONTEXTUALIZES THE MURDER OF MARY BACH, THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF CARL BACH, AND CONFRONTS THE FOLKLORE SURROUNDING THE HUMAN REMAINS THAT ARE PART OF THE WCHS COLLECTION. 1.B) 2 EXHIBITS OUTSIDE MAIN BUILDING: "A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH: SOCIETAL RESPONSE TO DISEASE" LOCATED INSIDE THE PEST HOUSE. "CHASING THE WHITE RABBIT: A HISTORICAL LOOK AT AMERICAN MENTAL ILLNESS" LOCATED INSIDE THE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 2) WCHS HAD THESE EVENTS IN 2023: NUMBER OF EVENTS: 20. FAMILY-FOCUSED EVENTS -- 1000 PEOPLE EASTER EGG HUNT (300+), SAFETY EVENT (700+) COMMUNITY-WELCOMING EVENTS -- 1040 PEOPLE 3 MUSIC MUSEUMS (770), BBQ BASH (120), RIBBON CUTTING/REOPENING (120) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON-SITE -- 1315 PEOPLE EARLY OHIO LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND (500), 5 TEAS & TALKS (425+), GERMAN AMERICAN DAY (20), LIVING HISTORY DAY IN AUGUST (120), SUMMER TEA CLASSES (100), BLACKSMITH DEMOS (50), POWER OF YESTERYEAR SPRING SHOWCASE (100) OUTREACH (NOT INCLUDING TRAVELING PROGRAMS) -- 1750 PEOPLE OHIO TOURISM DAY (300), GRAND RAPIDS ANTIQUE CAR SHOW (400), BOWLING GREEN FARMERS MARKET (100), PERRYSBURG MARKET (200), WOOD COUNTY AIR FAIR (400), FARMFEST (150), NORTH BALTIMORE TRUNK OR TREAT (200). EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS/ TRAVELING PROGRAMS OFF-SITE --3,696 PEOPLE ADULT PROGRAMS (66 PROGRAMS SERVING 1,345), STUDENT PROGRAMS (29 PROGRAMS SERVING 2,351). MUSEUM VISITORS (302 -- MUSEUM WAS ONLY OPEN FROM OCTOBER 16-DECEMBER 31, 2023, DUE TO WATER DAMAGE FROM CRACKED RADIATORS). TOTAL PEOPLE SERVED IN 2023 WAS 9,103. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE VIRTUAL PROGRAM AUDIENCES OR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS. VOLUNTEERS: 30 COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS AND 50 ADULT VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEERISM INCLUDED FRONT DESK GREETERS, NEWSLETTER ASSEMBLY, EVENTS VOLUNTEERS, AND HERB GARDEN MAINTENANCE.