Hometown Tourism: Plymouth, Indiana, Part 3
In some earlier posts within my Hometown Tourism series, I talked about the tourist sites within my hometown of Plymouth. I focused on the Blueberry Festival, but today, I am going to focus on the Marshall County Museum. This museum holds a special place in my heart.
After I graduated from college with a double major in history and political science, I found myself lost. I did not have a job, and I had no idea what type of job I even wanted. I did not even know what jobs to really apply to. Since I loved history, I thought I would check out the jobs available at museums. I also wanted to stay busy while I was unemployed, so I decided I would do volunteer work to keep my resume filled with experience. I walked into the Marshall County Museum, which is in downtown Plymouth, and I asked about their volunteer opportunities. They showed me around and told me about some options. They were actually in the middle of renovating, so they asked if I could paint. I probably laughed, and I said I can do base coats, but nothing decorative! They asked if I could come the next day with old clothes on, and I agreed! I helped paint, and even though I am not an expert in painting, I still had fun. I was determined to do my best!
My next task was to research the history of the local hospital, as it was turning 100 years old. I wrote text for the exhibit and compiled photos of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center’s Plymouth campus. I felt accomplished to see my work published so that others could learn from it. I also worked on an exhibit commemorating the Boy Scouts, as well as organizing the archives and books in the storage room.
My biggest project included the Historic Crossroads Center — Transportation Room. The Crossroads Center was going to be a new permanent exhibit and would be monumental for the museum, as it was due to an expansion. Did you know that Indiana’s nickname is the Crossroads of America? It is due to the fact that five major roads cross through Indiana: Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway, Michigan Road, the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and the Yellowstone Trail. Get this: ALL five go through Marshall County, Indiana! I worked on writing the text, collecting artifacts, and gathering photos to put on display. I worked on several different topics and areas of the room including the construction of the roads, local fairs and festivals, postcards, and a history of road trips, traveling, and hotels.
Besides the exhibits I worked on, there are many other exhibits and interesting things to see in the museum, such as a working model train exhibit and exhibits based on World War II, sports memorabilia, and local history. You can find more info about the museum here: http://www.mchistoricalsociety.org/ If you find yourself in Plymouth, Indiana, I highly recommend you visit the Marshall County Museum!
