Here are some outstanding photos of the Big Boy 4014 Steam Locomotive passing through the rare 1904 pin connected camelback railroad trustle bridge over the St. Mary's River in Fort Wayne. Thank you to Jim Wulpi of the Fort Wayne Photographers Club. Starting around the bend in fort Wayne, Indiana. The Union Pacific Big Boy... Continue Reading →
One of the new exhibits this summer at the Wells County Historical Museum is a unique diplay of hats. Many of the hats are from the 1950's and 1960's. However, some are believed to be older. Here are some of the ladies hats that are on display at the museum. More ladies hats. Some of... Continue Reading →
Check out the summer exhibit of dinnerware at Bluffton City Hall that has been prepared by Ben Jones of the Wells County Historical Society and Museum The dinnerware was believed to be used for the large banquets that were hosted in the City Hall large room (used as a gym today). The display of dinnerware... Continue Reading →
Thank you to Beth Steury, well know area genealogist and author who was the speaker recently at the May 2026 meeting of the Wells County Genealogy Society. Beth's topic was "Ten Years of Solving Mysteries: A Review & What's New". Beth has worked extensively with families in the area to help solve a family genealogy... Continue Reading →
A new Indiana historical marker has been added in Wells County at the Old Ossian Cemetery to honor Lt. Col. William Swaim. The soldier and his family had a farm north of Ossian at the time he and his son, James, enlisted to fight for the Union during the Civil War. He led Company A... Continue Reading →
Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will journey to the East Coast this summer for the first time as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. The tour includes a Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia, major display events in eight cities and more than 50 whistle-stops... Continue Reading →
Thank you to everyone who exhibited or visited our first Iris Show held at the Wells County 4-H Park. Thank you to the Bluffton Parks Department, Wells County Master Gardeners, Wells County 4-H Park and the Wells County Historical Society and Museum for organizing the event. Some of the iris that were exhibited. Visitors really... Continue Reading →
Thank you to all of the visitors who stopped by our booth at the 2026 Wells County Senior Expo held at the Wells County Community Center at the 4-H Park in Bluffton. We were able to distribute our museum schedule as people viewed some of the old photographs from our archives that we are trying... Continue Reading →
The Spring 2026 Senior Snippets topics included: The 1876 Centennial Celebration, the construction story of the courthouse, agriculture and farmsteads, automobile dealerships of early Bluffton and the 1976 Bi-Centennial Celebration. Here is a page from a newspaper promoting America's Centennial Celebration in 1876. Jim Sturgeon, President of the Wells County Historical Society shared newspaper accounts... Continue Reading →
Thank you to Todd Zieger of Indiana Landmarks who presented "Hidden Gems of Indiana" at the Spring Annual Meeting of the Wells County Historical Society held at the Wells County Public Library in Bluffton. Our speaker shared some interesting stories of buildings, bridges and structures that were saved from the wrecking ball and restored for... Continue Reading →
Wells County Historical Society and Museum 