Due to the pending retirement of its current director, the Darke County Historical Society seeks an Executive Director for its Garst Museum (www.garstmuseum.org). The museum is located in Greenville, Ohio, the seat of rural Darke County. The facility encompasses 38,000 square feet within several interconnected buildings, and the public areas include several major venues -- Crossroads of Destiny (a recently installed and highly regarded exhibit interpreting Ft. Greenville and the significant 1795 and 1814 treaties signed there), the Annie Oakley Center (which houses the most extensive collection of artifacts illuminating the life of this legendary woman performer and Darke County native), and an exhibit showcasing the exploits and contributions of Lowell Thomas ( internationally renowned broadcaster and adventurer and Darke County Native). The Museum’s holding also include a fine collection of military uniforms dating from 1812 to the present, material featuring Lt. Commander Zachary Lansdowne, Captain of the ill-fated airship USS Shenandoah, and smaller but significant collections of decorative arts (e.g., Currier and Ives prints).

The Society intends to engage the talents and dedication of a visionary leader who will move the museum into the next phase(s) of its growth through strategic planning, enhanced fundraising, volunteer recruitment and training, and further program development.

Qualified candidates will have significant and relevant experience for this position, including financial management and staff supervision. Other required skills include oral and written communication, developing and utilizing computerized data bases, and interest and ability in developing and sustaining positive and productive relationships with the Society’s Board, membership, staff, volunteers, and community. Proven success in fundraising, including grant-writing, will be a plus.

The initial annual base salary will reflect the skills and experiences of the appointee, and will be in the $25-35,000 range; additional financial incentives and fringe benefits may be offered. The Darke County Historical Society is an equal opportunity employer.

Interested parties should submit a resume reflecting education, prior employment, and other relevant experiences by August 15, 2010, to:

John F. Marchal
ATTN: Search Committee
116 W. Fourth Street
Greenville, OH 45331

The second floor of Garst Museum houses a treasure of Military uniforms and a vast array of military artifacts. All five branches of the US military services are represented. There are original uniforms from all the wars fought by the United States with the exception of one. Starting with the war of 1812, there are uniforms from the Civil War, Spanish American, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the current Iraq War. The lone exception is the Mexican American conflict of the mid 1800's. There are also uniforms from the three US military academies.

New permanent exhibit. Crossroads of Destiny, the stunning new exhibit telling the hiSTORY of the Treaty of Greene Ville. Greene Ville was the largest stockaded fort ever built in North America and it was the scene of the most significant American Indian treaty ever negotiated. The Treaty of Greene Ville in 1795 opened the door to the settlement of the Midwest resulting in Ohio statehood eight years later. The Treaty also ended forty years of conflict over the upper Ohio Valley.

The name Lowell Thomas evokes a number of images--Adventurer, explorer, world traveler, author. However, he was best remembered as a radio news commentator on the CBS Radio Network. The vast Lowell Thomas Exhibit at Garst Museum was donated by Thomas in his later year.