GREENVILLE – Greenville Mayor Jeff Whitaker spent Thursday morning touring the Garst Museum, a Darke County Gem.
“I invite everybody that lives in Darke County and everyone that visits Darke County to visit the Garst Museum,” said Whitaker. “People who may not know what is in this museum need to visit the museum and take a look. There is so much here, and it’s an enjoyable time.”

The historical museum with roots in the American experience, is home to over 300,000 artifacts on display in 35,000 square feet of exhibit space within six major and two minor venues. The Garst House, which served as an inn earlier, has six additional building wings.
“The history of Greenville and Darke County; you take a look around this museum of everything that has occurred, the Treaty of Greenville and Annie Oakley, Lowell Thomas, such a personality in the news and journalism field,” said Whitaker. “Everybody knew him; he knew presidents of the United States, and they are from Greenville and Darke County.”

Major exhibit venues and highlights include:
The National Annie Oakley Center – Highlights from Annie Oakley’s adventurous personal and professional life
Crossroads of Destiny – Tray of Greenville, Anthony Wayne, Little Turtle and Tecumseh, the Meeting of Lewis and Clark
Lowell Thomas with Lawrence and Beyond – Lawrence of Arabia, Globetrotting Media Coverage, Lowell’s collection of souvenirs
Keepers of Freedom – Commander Zachary Landsdowne and the USS Shenandoah and Darke County Veterans
The Village Wing – Longtown, Early Main Street Experience, and Kay Brown Photo Gallery
American Wing – Currier & Ives Collection, Period American Furnishings, Christopher Collection
Pioneer Wing – Great Darke County Fair, Early Agriculture Equipment, Early Domestic Equipment
Research Center – Darke County Geneology, Local History Archives, Regional Research Center

“You can get lost in this place,” Whitaker stated. “Everywhere you look, there is a very historical piece of information or momentum, and to see Annie Oakley’s rifles is just incredible.”
Mayor Whitaker is thankful the Museum received little damage from the 2024 tornado that ripped through Greenville.

“We are to be so grateful that the tornado that came through here last May 7th did not affect the Garst Museum much except for the corner of the building that got the tree damage,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine the loss of all the items in this museum to a tornado, and we are extremely blessed by that.”

“The admission is worth every penny to get an idea of the history of where you live and its significance; it’s incredible,” Mayor Whitaker added, “and I purchased a Christmas ornament at the Museum Store. It is very nice.”
Museum Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Closed Sundays, Mondays, and the Month of January.