New interpretations of Wood County’s popular history is the focus as the Wood County Historical Center
and Museum, 13660 County Home Road, prepares for its annual Spring Opening April 5 from 1 to 4 p.m.
"Society today loves the idea of recycling, reusing, and repurposing items, especially vintage
pieces," according to the Museum’s Curator Holly Hartlerode Uppal. Exhibits are being reorganized
and presented in new ways, with the intent being to improve the museum experience for the public.
The effort includes painting six rooms, courtesy of Comte Construction Co., installing new picture rail
and ensuring that heavy signs will hang securely, and cleaning carpets, walls, and drapes. In six weeks,
it has taken over 40 volunteers giving over 300 hours, in addition to staff efforts, to re-arrange and
re-interpret 17 exhibits.
Popular themes such as military, Wood County alumni, and Native Indians will remain, but will feature
artifacts from the society’s collection that have not been on exhibit for several years. The society
maintains over 25,000 artifacts in its collection, and recognizes the importance of rotation as both a
preservation standard and to create interest to visitors. A complete list of museum exhibits can be
found at http://woodcountyhistory.org/exhibits.html

Some exhibits are developed in conjunction with community partners such as Wood County 4-H, Black Swamp
Spinners Guild, Black Swamp Quilt Guild, and the Jerome Library at Bowling Green State University.
Inside a new Gallery Space, traveling exhibits will rotate, the first being a collection of Wood County
Quilts, featuring traditional and contemporary quilts produced by notable Wood Countians. This exhibit
runs through May 11 in conjunction with the Wood County 4-H Quilt Square Trail, which can be seen
outside. Also outside are a number of attractions include the Lunatic Asylum, Ice House, Pestilence
House with iron lung, Paupers’ Cemetery, Herb Garden, and new Story Walk trail leading to the Log Cabin.

Beginning April 5, the Wood County Historical Museum is open to the public Tuesday – Friday 9:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 4 p.m., with extended hours during special events. The museum is closed
on Mondays and holidays, but the grounds are open daily dawn to dusk as a public park.