Boone County Indiana Historical Society

10/15/2026

The next two bicentennial Quilt lowerings at the courthouse are scheduled for November 10th from 8-4. And Dec 8th from 8-4

See you there!

10/11/2026

Drop by and visit with us during the open hours.
This is a free event but we always appreciate donations, so a donation jar will be available if you'd like to drop a little something in there.

404 West Main Street, Lebanon, Indiana

10/10/2026

We had a ghoulishly good time at the ghost walk last night and welcomed many visitors to the Cragun House. The actors portraying Strange and Addie Cragun delivered a haunting performance, while our volunteers transformed the house into a spookaliciously decorated delight. Enjoy this sampling of event photos.

10/07/2026

Mischief on Meridian Halloween event is coming soon.
Saturday, October 24th, Downtown Lebanon transforms into spooky central!
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (4:30 PM Sensory Access)
Downtown Courthouse Square.

Prior to the event on the square, our friends and neighbors at Royal Cleaners are having a special event from 3-5pm.

Don't forget to trick-or-treat the Cragun house just catty-corner to Royal cleaners. We enjoy halloween just as much as everyone else, and would love to welcome all of the ghosts, goblins, monsters, ghouls, and other trick-or-treaters who are out for the evening.

Its going to be a spooktacular evening!

10/06/2026

Remembering Herman Antle — A Pioneer of Rural Electrification in Boone County

Herman Antle was the first General Manager of Boone County Rural Electric Membership Corporation (Boone REMC), now Boone Power. An electrical engineer from Chicago, Antle was hired to design the initial system mapping that would bring electricity to rural Boone County.

He served as General Manager for 35 years, from 1938 to 1973, helping guide the cooperative through decades of growth and change.

The story began in 1935, when a handful of Boone County residents traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with the Rural Electrification Administration. Boone County Rural Electric Membership Corporation was organized on June 18, 1935, and incorporated on April 10, 1936, becoming Indiana’s first electric cooperative.

On May 22, 1936, the cooperative energized its first 60-mile section of line. The Clark Woody home, located on the new lines, became the first home in Boone County to receive electricity under the Rural Electrification Act.

Herman Antle’s career represents an important chapter in Boone County’s history—a time when electricity was transforming rural life and opening the door to a new era of opportunity.

Photos donated by Boone Power. Thank you!

10/05/2026

Tomorrow, 10/6/2026, will be another day that the Bicentennial Quilt will be lowered in the courthouse rotunda from 8am-7pm.

Come get a closer look at this iconic piece of Boone County history.
We will have copies of the "sampler book" available for $10 which outlines everything about the quilt and location of each of the family name squares.

09/28/2026

09/21/2026

The Bicentennial Quilt in the courthouse rotunda will next be lowered on October 6th and November 10th until 7pm each day.
See you there!