Rising Sun Tells Its 200-Year Story With a Surprisingly Original History Museum | Cincinnati Refined

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An hour southwest of Cincinnati in Rising Sun, IN sits the Ohio County Historical Museum—a collection of artifacts and documents that tell the history of early Indiana and Rising Sun/Ohio County. The museum occupies a former plow factory that has been renovated over the years to accommodate the growing collection. It opened in 1972 after the Ohio County Historical Society raised enough funds to purchase the buildings, which had been vacant for nearly 25 years. ADDRESS: 212 S Walnut Street, Rising Sun, IN (47040) / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The museum is made up of three galleries: the Clore Wing (pictured), which dates back to 1849 and serves as a multi-purpose event space; the Whitlock Gallery, which houses notable inventions created by Rising Sun's legendary J.W. Whitlock; and the Siekman Gallery, which features a genealogy library along with display cases filled with artifacts from the area's past. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Arguably the museum's most prized piece in the collection is J.W. Whitlock's 'Hoosier Boy.' The hydroplane race boat, which was originally built in 1915, is considered the prototype for modern-day racing boats and still holds the record for the fastest roundtrip journey between Cincinnati and Louisville. The boat in the museum is the 4th iteration (built in the 1920s) of the Hoosier Boy. Whitlock outfitted it with a Liberty Aircraft engine to give it the necessary speed required to travel at such high speeds on the water. There's an unofficial agreement with the Smithsonian to send it to Washington D.C. should the Rising Sun museum ever discontinue. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Whitlock outfitted the Hoosier Boy with a Liberty Aircraft engine to give it the necessary speed required to travel at such high speeds on the water. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The Siekman Gallery houses a collection of artifacts and documents that tell the tale of early Indiana and Rising Sun/Ohio County. From examples of the plows that were made on-site in the 1800s to the original 1814 map used to divide the land into saleable parcels, there's a number of items in the collection that piece together the story of the area. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

A recent renovation of the three buildings involved repurposing the former blacksmith shop into an office for the museum's director, as well as creating a conference room for the museum's board members. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

John James, a plantation-owning settler from Maryland, came to the area and platted Rising Sun in 1814. The map he used, as well as her personal compass, are both on display. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20<p></p>

The museum has a genealogy library that's open to visitors. It has files on nearly every family dating back to the founding of Rising Sun. There is no fee associated with using the library; the museum kindly requests visitors consider donating to help it continue operating. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

J. W. Whitlock made his fortune making furniture. From chairs to curio cabinets, radios to harpsichord jukeboxes, and other inventions in between. He was so skilled, Cincinnati's own Powell Crosley Jr. and the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company were both known to pay for Whitlock's work. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The Hoosier Boy sat two people: Whitlock at the helm and an oiler to assist with keeping the engine running. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20<p></p>

The museum has two rather unsettling pieces exhibited. The first is a replica of an electric chair that was made in the 1920s. A local blacksmith was commissioned by the government to make a more “humane” electric chair for use in executions. The blacksmith, a religious conservative, initially balked at the prospect of making a device to end someone’s life, but chose to make the chair in the end if it meant it would provide an easier execution for someone condemned to death. This particular chair is a replica made with the same materials and was never actually used. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The second piece is a taxidermied, two-headed calf. It was born on an Indiana farm and only lived for 45 minutes. Because livestock born with polycephaly are so rare, the calf was preserved and given to the museum. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Whitlock's business, the Whitlock Furniture Company, made beautiful furniture that was shipped all over the United States. Several of the chairs on display in the Whitlock Gallery were purchased from residents as far south as Florida. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The Clore Wing was a plow factory at one point in history. Because they were so well-built, Clore plows ended up all over the US. Examples of those plows are displayed in the museum. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20<p></p><p></p><p></p>

A plow / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The Siekman Gallery houses a collection of artifacts and documents that tell the tale of early Indiana and Rising Sun/Ohio County. From examples of the plows that were made on-site in the 1800s to the original 1814 map used to divide the land into saleable parcels, there's a number of items in the collection that piece together the story of the area. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Several steamboat models sit on top of display cases to acknowledge Rising Sun's history as a prosperous river town. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Arguably the museum's most prized piece in the collection is J.W. Whitlock's 'Hoosier Boy.' The hydroplane race boat, which was originally built in 1915, is considered the prototype for modern-day racing boats and still holds the record for the fastest roundtrip journey between Cincinnati and Louisville. The boat in the museum is the 4th iteration (built in the 1920s) of the Hoosier Boy. Whitlock outfitted it with a Liberty Aircraft engine to give it the necessary speed required to travel at such high speeds on the water. There's an unofficial agreement with the Smithsonian to send it to Washington D.C. should the Rising Sun museum ever discontinue. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Detail on the Hoosier Boy's steering wheel behind the massive Liberty Aircraft engine / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The museum occupies a former plow factory that has been renovated over the years to accommodate the growing collection. It opened in 1972 after the Ohio County Historical Society raised enough funds to purchase the buildings, which had been vacant for nearly 25 years. ADDRESS: 212 S Walnut Street, Rising Sun, IN (47040) / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Old sports trophies dating back many decades are on display. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Along with the Hoosier Boy, Whitlock's Hoosier Girl is on display. Not a hydroplane racing boat, the Hoosier Girl served as a luxury vessel for Whitlock and his family. It sat eight people in total. Though the area wasn't hit as hard as Cincinnati, the boat was used to help liberate some Rising Sun residents from the devastation of the 1937 flood. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

A model of a statue of John James that was designed for Rising Sun's bicentennial in 2014. He originally platted the region. The statue was never constructed. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

An Epworth Pipe Tone Organ / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The buildings the museum occupies are on the National Register of Historic Places. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

A dress with an old photo of its owner are on display. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The Ohio County Historical Museum is home to two famous boats: the Hoosier Boy and Girl. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

A chest from around 1845 used by the Detmer family. The Detmers were German immigrants who settled in Rising Sun. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The museum is made up of three galleries: the Clore Wing, which dates back to 1849 and serves as a multi-purpose event space; the Whitlock Gallery, which houses notable inventions created by Rising Sun's legendary J.W. Whitlock; and the Siekman Gallery (pictured), which features a genealogy library along with display cases filled with artifacts from the area's past. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Several steamboat models sit on top of display cases to acknowledge Rising Sun's history as a prosperous river town. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Arrowheads from the area collected in 1964 by Pearl Stegemiller / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

An entire display case is dedicated to the Presbyterian church down the street from the museum. Originally built in 1832, it had a seminary early on that taught teachers and sent them out west. Though the church disbanded in the 1880s, the museum has physical records and documents from its time as a church on display. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

The seal of the Ohio County Historical Society / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Catch up on your history, why don't ya? / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

A banner that hangs from the clerestory in the Siekman Gallery / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Whitlock outfitted the Hoosier Boy with a Liberty Aircraft engine to give it the necessary speed required to travel at such high speeds on the water. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

Silver from a local silversmith who moved from Cincinnati to Rising Sun when the town was seeing significant growth in the mid-1800s. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

An old racing trophy from the Western and Southern Life Insurance Company based out of Cincinnati. Note the stylized racing boat riding the wave on the top of the cup. / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

A neat sign that hangs outside of the museum / Image: Phil Armstrong, Cincinnati Refined // Published: 1.7.20

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