Our programs
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Upcoming Events
The November meeting of the Knox County Historical Society will celebrate the season
by highlighting the long history of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus. The meeting will be held
on Wednesday evening, November 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at the Historical Society
Museum, 875 Harcourt Road in Mount Vernon.
The program will be presented by the noted Santa historian, Craig Garrelts, who will tell
of the ancient beginnings of the story and the spread of the legend throughout Europe and
beyond, adapting itself to many cultures and customs over the centuries. More recently, the
transformation of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus has influenced our literature, art, music
and commercialism in many ways, especially in the United States.
Mr. Garrelts’ engaging presentation and portrayal are designed to celebrate both the
history and the joy of the holiday season. The program is free and open to the public.
Visitors may tour the Museum both before and after the 7:30 presentation, and to end this
year’s series of Historical Society monthly presentations we will be offering light
refreshments during the evening.
The Museum will be open by appointment only during the coming months of December,
January and February. For more information, call the Museum at 740-393-5247 or visit
our website at www.knoxhistory.org.
Testimonials
News
This is one of the best kept secrets of Knox County. If you're a local history enthusiast, you should definitely check out the museum. The museum director is very knowledgeable and can tell you just about anything you'd want to know about the county. If he doesn't know the answer, he can help you find out.
This is the best local history society/museum I have ever visited. You will get a personal tour of the immense number of fascinating items, including Paul Lynde's T-Bird, a very unique quilt collection, just to name a few. This is a "don't miss" opportunity if you are traveling through the area!
Neat little county museum which has plenty of local history and a little something for everyone! Paul Lynde was from the town, and they have a nice little section (including a beautiful car he owned) on his life. So much to see - no "one" type of exhibit. From frocks, to rocks, to cars, to computers, to a large stained glass window from a church, to steam powered tractors, to antique toys... the list goes on.
Jim is very knowledge about Knox County and very dedicated to the museum. If you have any questions about the history of the area, stop by to see him. Going through the museum can be slightly overwhelming because their is such a large collection. It has an antique shop feel to it rather than a museum. You never know what treasures you will stumble upon. If you have a particular interest (factories in the area, telephones, wars, the famous people of Knox county, Native American history of Knox County, etc.), ask where to find it-Jim knows where everything is. :) Some of our favorite discoveries so far have been the doll houses, the clothing of the lady doctor, the play bricks, the Dan Emmit collection, the old jail cell, the catalog-style displays, and the classic car.