Quilts, Exhibits, and Regional History

At The Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, visitors can use a 1901 Singer treadle sewing machine as well as an electric Singer Featherweight. The museum is located in the former home of Marie Webster, an influential quilt designer of the early 20th century. A visit combines a historic home with a hands-on encounter with sewing machines that visitors can use themselves.

The Marion Public Library Museum preserves the history of Marion and Grant County through exhibits and artifacts. The interactive “Made in Marion” exhibit focuses on the natural gas boom and the region’s industrial origins. In Gas City, the Gas City Museum explores further facets of the city’s history: its topics include the natural gas boom, glass factories, and railroads, as well as local artists, city government, and everyday life. Together, these themes show both industrial developments and urban life.

Fairmount: James Dean, Garfield, and a Festival

The Fairmount Historical Museum displays James Dean memorabilia from his family’s collection, including awards, clothing, motorcycles, and film-related items. A separate exhibit is dedicated to Jim Davis and Garfield. The James Dean Museum in Fairmount also has its own distinctive features: its exhibition space covers more than 6,000 square feet. It displays artifacts from the Winslow family; exhibits about Jim Davis and Garfield, as well as Fairmount’s history, have also been expanded.

Since 1975, volunteers have organized Fairmount Museum Days as part of the Remembering James Dean Festival. The three-day weekend traditionally takes place on the last full weekend in September and includes concerts, look-alike contests, film screenings, and a large car show. Since exact festival plans may vary, it’s worth checking the festival dates before your trip.

Historic Traces Across the County

You can encounter the county’s history beyond its museums, too. In downtown Sweetser, the Sweetser Switch Trail features a wooden railroad caboose from 1916, a restored passenger car, and a mail car. In Jonesboro, the city’s first log cabin is on display in Jonesboro Park. Obadiah Jones bought it in 1834; today, the Jonesboro Historical Society is restoring and preserving it.

Near Matthews, a covered wooden bridge spans the Mississinewa River. It is 181 feet long, was built in 1877, and was restored in 1999. It is also the last surviving covered bridge in Grant County. Its dimensions, construction date, and later restoration make it a tangible example of the region’s architectural heritage.

Trails and Getting Around

Grant County is in east-central Indiana and offers convenient access to Interstate 69. The county has numerous paved trails with easily accessible trailheads and ample parking. For specific route information, the Cardinal Greenway segment is useful: it runs 17 miles through Grant County, from Converse to Jonesboro.

One of the region’s annual living-history experiences is Mississinewa 1812 in Grant County. The event commemorates the Battle of Mississinewa on December 17 and 18, 1812. Historic collections in Marion, Gas City, and Fairmount, outdoor memorial sites, and this living look at the past offer different ways to explore Grant County’s history.

Explore More Destinations

Marion, Gas City, Spencer County, St. Joseph, Fulton County, Huntington County, Posey County, Monroe

Return to the main travel overview: Indiana.