Exhibits and Artifacts

The "Lincoln Room," boasts an extensive Lincoln Library and many important artifacts related to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln – as well as the lives of the Gourlay family members who were witnesses to that event, The Columns also contains several other interesting exhibits and important artifacts.

The "Civil War Room" contains an exhibit which depicts the lives of civilians who lived in Pike County during those turbulent times, as well as lives of soldiers from the area who were engaged in the conflict itself.

WWI and WWII are also well represented with many items of interest - including a collection of original WWII poster art which encourages us to "Buy Bonds" and "Support the War Effort." Included in these are the famous "Four Freedoms" by Norman Rockwell.

"Rural Hours: A Pike County Pastoral, 1860 -1950," interprets a century of Pike County history, a time when the pursuits of its people were mainly agricultural and the area was decidedly rural. It was a time when a majority of the area residents earned their living from the land, either by farming or extractive types of industry, such as quarrying and timbering. Featuring a slide presentation, many artifacts and pictures from the period, as well as detailed narrative explanations, the exhibit is a pastoral. It clearly and realistically depicts rural life during an era which is often forgotten.

The Pike County Historical Society is constantly reviewing its holdings and acquiring new items of historic significance. Seasonally, new displays and exhibits are created to focus upon new areas of historic interest and importance.