Wells County Historical Society & Museum Schedule
2026 Event Calendar
April
Sunday, April 5 – Happy Easter, Museum Closed
Sunday, April 12 – Opening Day for the Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm. View a new exhibit on the Smith Garage & Trucking as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. Meet the Smith family at a reception at the museum.
Monday, April 13 – Annual Meeting, 6:30pm, Wells County Public Library meeting room, Bluffton. Speaker will be Todd Zieger, from Indiana Landmarks. Topic will be Hidden Gems of Indiana. There will be a short business meeting. Refreshments will be served. Event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday, April 15 – Local History Series begins with The 1876 Centenial Celebration in Wells County presented by Jim Sturgeon, 10:00am, at the Museum. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, April 15 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, April 19 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, April 22 – Local History Series continues with The Construction Storu of the Wells County Courthouse 1889-1891, presented by Jim Sturgeon, 10:00am, at the Museum. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, April 22 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, April 26 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, April 29 – Local History Series continues with Early Wells County Agriculture, presented by Larry McAfee, 10:00am, at the Museum. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, April 29 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
May
Sunday, May 3 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, May 6 – Local History Series continues with the History of Car Dealerships in Bluffton presented by Ben Jones, 10:00am, at the Museum. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, May 6 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Thursday, May 7 – Wells County Historical Society and Museum will be at the Senior Expo from 9am – 2pm, Wells County Community Center, 4-H Park, Bluffton. Visit us at booth # 16 and check our upcoming events. Help us identify some people in the photos that will be on display.
Sunday, May 10 – Mother’s Day, Museum Closed
Wednesday, May 13 – Local History Series concludes with a presented by Jim Sturgeon about the 1976 Bi-Centenial Celebration in Wells County. Tehprogram will begin at10:00am, at the Museum. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, May 13 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Saturday, May 16 – Iris Show, Wells County 4-H Park, Center Circle area near gazebo, Bluffton, 8:00 am – 12:00 Noon. Bring a stem of your blooming iris in a bottle/vase to be part of the show. Free and open to the public.
Saturday, May 16 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 8:00am – 1:00pm as part of the Iris Show activities. See the Williamson Iris Display at the Museum.
Sunday, May 17 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, May 20 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, May 24 – Closed for Memorial Day Weekend
Wednesday, May 27 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, May 31 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
June
Monday, June 1 – Colonial Games at 5 Five Points School, 5250 E. 1100 S-90, Montpelier, 2:00 – 3:30pm, Learn history through games. Games to include sling shots, jousting, noise makers, hoop throw, old fashioned dolls, button on a string, Tennessee spinner gourds and more. Pre-register by e-mail or phone, Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register. Free and open to all ages.
Wednesday, June 3 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, June 7 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, June 10 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, June 14 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, June 17 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Thursday, June 18 – E.B. Williamson History Talk by local historian, Alan Dougherty at Wells County Public Library, large meeting room, Bluffton. 6:30 – 7:30pm. Free, Registration appreciated but not required at: https://wellscounty.librarycalendar.com/event/save-adult-srp-event-7893
Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day, Museum Closed
Wednesday, June 24 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, June 28 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
July
Wednesday, July 1 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Saturday, July 4 – Wells County Museum open, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, July 5 – Museum Closed for Independence Day
Wednesday, July 8 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, July 12 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, July 15 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Thursday, July 16 – Bluffton Historic House Walk, Bluffton Villa North Area, 4:00pm & 6:00pm. Free, register at: https://wellscounty.librarycalendar.com/event/save-adult-srp-event-7893
Sunday, July 19 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Wednesday, July 22 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, July 26 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, July 29 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
August
Sunday, August 2 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 5 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Saturday, August 8 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 3:00 – 6:00pm, special hours for the Parlor City Art Festival.
Sunday, August 9 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 12 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, August 16 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 19 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, August 23 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 26 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, August 30 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
September
Wednesday, September 2 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, September 6 – Museum Closed for Labor Day Weekend
Wednesday, September 9 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, September 13 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, September 16 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, September 20 – Museum closed in preparation of Street Fair
Tuesday – Saturday, September 22 – 26 – Bluffton Street Fair, open 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, September 27 – Museum closed for Street Fair Clean-up
Wednesday, September 30 – Local History Series begins with the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Wells County Historian, Jim Sturgeon will present a program about the 1887 Vera Cruz Bridge and what makes it unique. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, September 30 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
October
Sunday, October 4 – Cemetery Talk and Our Town presentation about the St. John’s Cemetery of Vera Cruz and the town of Vera Cruz, Museum Annex, 2:00pm. Event is free and open to the public.
Sunday, October 4 – Wells County Historical Museum open after the Cemetery Talk, until 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 7 – Local History Series continues with the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program at 10:00am. Step back in time with this photographic presentation about the history of the King, H.C. Bay and Estey Piano Companies, all who made their home in Bluffton. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, October 7 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, October 11 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 14 – Local History Series concludes with the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Learn new insights about the American Civil War with a presentation “Gettysburg – how Hoosiers helped win the battle for the Union.” Presented by local Civil War historian, Greg Hiday. *Part of the Bluffton Parks Department Snippets Program. Call 824-6069 or e-mail events@blufftonindiana.gov to register.
Wednesday, October 14 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, October 18 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 21 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Sunday, October 25 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 28 – Wells County Historical Museum open, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Friday, October 30 – “Boo in Bluffton at the Museum,” volunteers handing out treats from the front steps of the museum, 5:00 – 7:00pm
November
Sunday, November 1 – Friday, December 4 – The main museum closed in preparation for “Christmas in the Mansion”
Monday, November 9 – Wells County Historical Society Fall Meeting will be held at 6:30pm in the Museum Annex, 420 W. Market St. Bluffton. The Annex is located behind the main museum. Kip Lytle, board member with Historic Old Fort Wayne will present “Northeast Indiana Historic Forts.” He will share photos, artifacts and stories about the five forts that were in the area from 1722 – 1819. A short business meeting will be held with the election of officers for 2027. The event is free & open to the public.
December
Saturday, December 5 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” Museum, 1:30 – 4:00pm. Free & open to the public.
Sunday, December 6 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” Museum, 1:30 – 4:00. Free & open to the public.
Saturday, December 12 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” part of “Parlor City Christmas in Bluffton,” Museum, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Free trolley will stop at Museum, 10:00 – 3:30pm. Event is free & open to the public. Visit http://parlorcitychristmas.com for updated schedule.
Sunday, December 13 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” Museum, 1:30 – 4:00pm. Free & open to the public.
Saturday, December 19 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” Museum, 1:30 – 4:00pm. Free & open to the public.
Sunday, December 20 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” Museum, 1:30 – 4:00pm. Free & open to the public.
Sunday, December 27 – “Christmas in the Mansion,” Musueam, 1:30 – 4:00pm. Free & open to the public.
Monday, December 28 – Museum closed for the winter and will reopen in April. The museum is open by appointment only, call Jim Sturgeon, 260-273-1878.
