Step through the museum's door and visit Miami County's Historic past. The first object that meets your eyes is Cole Porter's 1955 Fleetwood Cadillac at the beginning of the COLE PORTER exibit.

On your immediate left is the history of CIRCUS in Miami County including THREE STAGECOACHES (one belonging to movie star legend, Tom Mix). Also, on the first floor you will enjoy exhibits of NATIVE AMERICANS, the HAL PHELPS ARCHIVES, and last, but not least the museum's GIFT SHOP.

On the second floor, you will step back in time and visit Peru during the 1910 era which includes a ONE-ROOM SCHOOLROOM, a CHURCH HISTORY EXHIBIT, a DENTAL OFFICE, VICTORIAN ERA ROOMS, SHOPS, a RAILROAD exhibit and other local businesses.

Visitation is self-guided, but tours are available by appointment. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm most weeks. Circus week the hours are 12:00 Noon to 8:00pm. The museum is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas weekend.

Click images to enlarge

Railroad Exhibit

Armament Room

Cole Porter Exhibit

2nd Floor Exhibit

Cole Porter Cadillac

Circus Carriage
and Tom Mix'
Stage Coach

Circus Exhibit

Porter Drug Store

Transportation Exhibit

Steam Car
Local Mail Wagon

The Hal C. Phelps Archives is a public research room holding local maps, newspaper microfilm from 1839 to present day, Miami County History books, Peru city directories, Peru and Miami County telephone directories, school yearbooks, cemetery records, files on Miami County businesses, school records, church records, census reports, military records, circus history, Native Miami Indian history, canal history and much more. Also available is a large family genealogy section in the form of family files, family photos, and birth, marriage and death records. Hours are normally Tuesday through Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm, but may be closed for vacations, etc. A microfilm reader and printer, as well as a copy machine are available to the public. There is no cost for research on site, except for copies. Contact the museum for long distance research help and costs. The public is encouraged to take advantage of the Archives as a resource for Miami County History.

Anyone who has a few extra hours a month is encouraged volunteer at the Miami County Museum. There are opportunities available for a wide array of skills and talents. Most needed are persons for development/fundraising, data entry, website help, and festival volunteers. Contact the Miami County Museum Volunteer Coordinator to find out more about how you can be of service to the museum and your community.

Note: If you are still using the old email addresses for staff, please note
all emails are the same prefix with mcmuseum.org at the end NOT miamicountymuseum.com

Museum Staff:

Elise Kordis
Curator/Director

Elise Kordis is the Curator/Director of the Miami County Museum. As part of her passion for museums and history, Elise is focusing on exhibits and community outreach. Elise is dedicated to preserving local history to tell community stories and creating an enthusiastic environment for learning. She invites you to visit the Miami County Museum!

Elise Kordis Email

Nancy Masten is the archivist of the Hal C. Phelps Archives of the Miami County Museum. A lifelong resident of Miami County, Nancy's duties include the conservation and physical care of all archival materials in the Museum. In addition, she assists researchers in the Archives, helps with museum tours, is the volunteer coordinator, updates the website, and is available for talks about museum related topics.

As administrative assistant for the museum and the historical society, Marge's duties include ordering for and maintaining the gift shop, and helping with clerical work for the museum. Marge works Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. With the gift shop and office located at the front door of the museum, Marge is the first person visitors to the museum will meet on those days.

Miami County Historical Society:

Founded in 1916, the MCHS has been responsible for the governance and financial health of the Miami County Museum. Through the annual Heritage and Cole Porter Festivals the Society promotes history in the community that preserve Miami County's rich heritage. See Events page or contact the Museum for further information regarding the Society's upcoming events.

For more information