Hobart History
Historical Museum
The Museum
The Hobart Historical Society Museum is located in the former Hobart Public Library building which was constructed in 1914 through the efforts of the Hobart Women's Reading Club and the aid of a Carnegie grant. Dedicated February 11, 1915, it served generations of Hobart citizens until 1968 when the Hobart Public Library moved to a new building.
The building is in English Renaissance style with nine colors of bricks and a slate roof. The bay windows are of leaded glass with stained glass medallions. The main floor interior retains the original library plan and many of the original fittings. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated an Indiana Historic Landmark.
Exhibits
Main floor exhibits focus on the history of the Hobart area and home life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Objects and exhibits date from fossils and ice age objects through Indian artifacts, furnishings brought to Hobart by covered wagon in the 1830's and Civil War memorabilia.
A large area is devoted to home furnishings, clothing, quilts, linens, and utensils of the period 1890-1920.
Other exhibits include a scale model of the grist mill, Hobart bands, Scouts and Campfire Girls, Hobart brickyards, Hobart businesses, a collection of American flags with different numbers of stars, a large aerial photograph of Hobart in 1967 and a photographic display of "Hobart Then and Now".
Ballantyne Gallery
Built as a memorial to Donald Ballantyne, whose interest in the early craftsmen of the area brought to the Museum its fine collection of wheelwright and working tools, the Gallery includes full replicas of a blacksmith shop, a wheelmaking and woodworking shop and an operating print shop. A street scene features shop window displays. Early agricultural implements are found "in the alley".
Mariam J. Pleak Library and Archive
The library and archive was established in memory of Mariam J. Pleak, founder and first president of the Society. The library includes material on U.S., state and Calumet Region history and related subjects, but concentrates on Hobart. A large clipping file, picture files, local newspapers on microfilm, Hobart High School yearbooks, geneaology file on Hobart families, federal censuses for Lake County and an obituary file provides resources for the research in Hobart history. The archive includes records deposited with the Society by local organizations. The library is open to all users on a reference basis. Photocopying is available.
Museum Services
Each year almost 2,000 visitors call at the Museum, individually, in families or as members of the many groups who tour the Museum. Many young people visit through their schools or youth groups.
Other services include:
- Tours, during Museum hours or by appointment.
- Speakers and programs on various historical topics
- Publications on Hobart history
- Traveling exhibits
- Small shop for local commemorative items
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