Programs and Events

The museum is proud to bring you the 9th annual Centennial Homes Program.  What started as a showcase of 100+-year-old homes in our community has branched out to include the history of communities and people within the area.  Syracuse resident and native, Ann Vanderford Garceau brings an educational and insightful look into the homes, communities, and people that have been a part of the town of Syracuse before and since its establishment in 1837.
If you have a lake area home that is +100 years old and would like to participate, please contact the museum for more information. All participants receive a plaque as a thank you for participating. Free!

This program is funded by a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

July 13: The Southeastern Shore of Lake Wawasee, Part 1.

Saturday morning, July 13th, from 10:30 to noon at the Syracuse Community Center, the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum’s summer Centennial Programs will feature the lakeshore from where Turkey Creek enters Wawasee on the Southeast end of the lake, to Buttermilk Point and on to Cottingham Beach.  The first program on this expanse includes: the fascinating Rollert family who owned 26 acres along this lakeshore, and the pioneer Jarrett family of buttermilk fame who sold to Charles Johnson in 1914 developing an amusement park and then Johnson’s Hotel with its 5 buildings.  Also included will be Elmwood Heights.

August 10: The Southeastern Shore of Lake Wawasee, Part 2

The August 10th Centennial program from 10:30 to noon at the Syracuse Community Center will begin on the other side of Johnson’s Hotel with Klingaman’s grocery & rooms – her father came to this area from Nappanee in search of buried treasure in the Game Preserve area; being unsuccessful, he built a store & young Ike Klingaman married her; Ike called square dances at Johnson’s Hotel.  In the 1950s, the Heil family bought the property and built Heil’s Haven. Descendant Ross Heil will share early home movies of the property.  The program will feature some Centennial Homes on Cottingham Beach, including one built around a very early log cabin.  Many well-known condominium complexes now occupy much of this area since first being built in late 1960s. 

The program is designed around grades 1-6, but is open to all age groups, including adults.

Our guest teachers this year will be Cathy Draeger-Williams, an archaeologist from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources–Department of Historic Preservation & Archaeology and a special guest-by-video striving for a track and field Olympic spot. Hope to see you there! FREE!

The YHC 2024 schedule is ready!  Please note that if you would like your children to participate in the July 25 “Shoes Through History” you will need to preregister them in order to ensure they have a shoe kit. Each meeting will be held in the Celebration Hall and/or outside to allow more space for children and teachers. This program is funded by a grant from the Dekko Foundation.

The museum offers a variety of activities for the kids throughout June thru August.
Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m., the Youth History Club will meet.

June 27—Geology of the Area
July 4—Closed
July 11— Olympics, part 1, What It Takes To Make It
July 18—Olympics, part 2, Games (Outside, weather permit)
July 25— Shoes through History (Pre-register to ensure supply availability)
August 1—Atlatl & Spear History and Construction
August 8—Atlatl Training

All classes FREE and will focus on the overall history, and history as it pertains to our area.

Each session will last approximately an hour. Please note that some topics may run longer because they are more hands-on activities. Weekly topics are subject to change.
Classes meet in the Celebration Hall of the community center.

Contact Jamie Clemons at the museum to register and for more
information on these topics. Preregistration is not required but appreciated.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum has a mission of sharing local history with all members of the community – including school children! Our Educational Outreach Program aims to excite students about our town and county history through hands-on activities and interdisciplinary learning. All programs are tied to Indiana State Core Standards for Social Studies and can be tailored to emphasize specific learning objectives or topics at the request of classroom teachers.
Educational Outreach Programs are designed to be held in school classrooms or take place on site at the museum. Museum tours and scavenger hunts for children are also available by request. Most programs are free; donations are appreciated. Some program expansions may require a small fee per student for supply costs.

The museum director is happy to work with educators in enhancing their curriculum by helping provide information, supplies, and/or visiting the classroom. Please look at the brochure attachment for currently offered programs, or contact the museum to inquire about additional programs or ideas. The brochure’s listed standards are based on the 2015-16 Social Studies standards. The museum staff is always delighted to accommodate educators as much as possible.

Educational Classroom Outreach Programs Brochure

Education Outreach for 2022-2024 is funded by the Dekko Foundation.