We are dedicated to preserving the history of the county and fostering education on its relevance to the American experience. Our mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, study, and interpret materials relating to the history and culture of Darke County, Ohio, as it represents a Crossroads of the American Experience. 

The DCHS operates the Garst Museum in Greenville, Ohio, and its 35,000 square-foot campus houses over 300,000 artifacts. Permanent exhibitions of national significance include Annie Oakley, the Treaty of Greenville, Lowell Thomas, and Ohio Native Americans. The Garst Museum offers programs for people of all ages and walks of life and welcomes over 20,000 visitors a year. In its effort to address the needs of the community, the museum offers an opportunity for all fourth grade students in Darke County to participate in educational programs aligned with Ohio’s fourth grade curriculum standards at no charge. Due to their popularity, programs have expanded to include students from the surrounding counties.