MUSEUM HISTORY
This museum is located just south of Buckskin, Indiana, in Gibson County. The Henager Family Museum was officially opened December 1996 by Mr. James Henager. The museum began as a repository for family memorabilia. Items included equipment and other items from the family’s long line of woodworking history. The family also had a collection of items of local historical interest, including photos, printed materials, automotive equipment & vehicles and military items. These items were available for public viewing at the family’s historical wood shop. As time passed, the local community as well as individuals and businesses across the nation became interested in the museum and began donating additional items for display in the museum. When the family made the collection available for community contributions, an overwhelming response of additional items for display was received by the museum. Currently the museum receives items for display from all across the nation.
In 1998, the museum incorporated and applied for recognition under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(C)(3). On July 3, 1998, Internal Revenue Service granted the exemption to the museum.
Currently the Museum has thousands of items which need to be preserved and displayed. The process of preservation includes the following steps: categorizing, cataloging, documenting, recording, making archival negatives of photos and displaying in appropriate manner. This preservation and display process will require more space which will include the acquisition of additional land and the construction of larger facilities, including the National Veterans Memorial. This process would also include local historical structure reconstruction, such as a 1940’s main street, log houses, Native American dwellings and other structures of local origin.
Currently the museum has become recognized as a regional and national institution. The Indiana Visitors and Tourism Commission recognizes the museum as a point of interest in Southern Indiana and includes it in their listings of historical sites and points of interest. The museum is a member of the Association of Indiana Museums, International Federation of Scouting Museums and Southwestern Indiana Arts Council. The museum has been featured on the Indiana Historical Society’s program Across Indiana produced by public television station WFYI. Several newspapers have given the museum statewide recognition. The museum has also received national recognition as the result of several magazine articles. Local television stations have routinely contacted the museum and used museum items in their broadcasts related to both local and national events. You can also refer to your AAA Tour Book for information.
The museum is open to the public on a regular basis. Donations and admission fees help support the operations of the museum. The museum is currently raising funds to expand its operation.
