Mission Statement
“The mission of the Hendricks County Historical Museum is to collect, preserve and interpret items relating to the people, places and events of Hendricks County and to stimulate public interest in the heritage of the county through education, exhibits and special programs.”

The museum will be sending our newsletters out through email.
If you’d like to receive an electronic copy, email us at hcmuseum@co.hendricks.in.us
Just a reminder–the museum is closed for the winter.
Come by for a visit in March of 2023 and see the new displays and research area!
Coming in 2023:
The video below provides a brief tour of the museum. It was made for our annual fundraiser, “Dancing with the Hendricks County Stars”, in August 2021.
Our 2022 Title Sponsor

2022 Dancing With the Hendricks County Stars was a hit! Special thanks to the Hendricks County Fairgrounds and Arthur Murray Studios for their generous support with this event.
We appreciate the community’s support in helping keep the Hendricks County Museum going strong!
Mark your calendars for next year’s Dancing with the Hendicks County Stars–Saturday, May 20, 2023.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Museum!
Click here
Thanks to Visit Hendricks County for providing this video
———————————————-
The Museum is open March – December. Closed January and February.
Hours: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Fridays and Saturdays.
We are happy to accept your research questions. However, due to the limited staffing resources available, we will not be able to guarantee research time spent or results.
Please allow several days for proper handling of your question.
The Hendricks County Museum is at 170 S. Washington Street in Danville, just one block south of the courthouse square in the building that served from 1868 to 1974, as the Hendricks County Sheriff’s home, with the jail in the basement. It is furnished as it would have been in the late 1800s.
For more information, contact us at: hcmuseum@co.hendricks.in.us or (317) 718- 6158.
About Us
The museum is located in the former Sheriff’s Residence and jail. Built in 1866 at an approximate cost of $30,000, it served as the county jail until 1974. The building is owned and maintained by the county. The museum staff is responsible for the contents and display of the collections.
Events
Tours
If you’re interested in having a tour of the museum, click the link below and fill out the form on the tours page.
Collections
The Hendricks County Historical Museum is a fascinating place filled with artifacts dating back to 1866 when the Museum served as the Sheriff’s Residence and jail. There are several rooms decorated in the period of early 1900’s, including the kitchen, parlor and bedrooms. Come and experience the rich history of Hendricks County, Indiana.
Rooms
- Central Normal College
- The Old Jail
- Military Room
- Sheriff’s Office
- Kitchens
- Parlor
- Children’s Room
- Adult’s Room
- Changing Exhibit
Rooms Gallery
Available Items
Some of our items are available for purchase. To view a list of these items, click the button below.