America 250-Garst is Celebrating Ohio’s Entertainers Throughout the Month of March

America 250 - Ohio is celebrating its entertainers throughout March, and the Garst Museum has exhibits featuring entertainers from Darke County.

Annie Oakley and Lowell Thomas are two of the most widely known entertainers who called Darke County home.

Oakley toured the world and met heads of state, royalty, and other dignitaries. Her skill at handling a gun was honed in the fields of northern Darke County.

Thomas once called Woodington, a small village north of Greenville, home. He went on to become a highly decorated reporter and storyteller. The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Peabody Award are among his many accomplishments. He is known for his travelogues, reporting in war-torn areas of the world, and for turning a British officer into a global sensation who became better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

Although both of those individuals are widely known, the Garst Museum has some lesser-known entertainers on exhibit in the Villages Wing of the museum.

Have you ever heard of the Famous Russells (a.k.a. The Three Russells) or Choo Choo the Clown? You can learn more about these entertainers during your next visit to the museum.

The Russells were natives of Versailles and toured the country on the fair and vaudeville circuit. They were renowned for their expertise in throwing knives and axes.

Choo Choo the Clown was a local celebrity who entertained for over 20 years. Ed Schilling was the man behind the make-up, and he brought smiles and laughter to children throughout the region. In 1994, when he could no longer perform, he donated his costume and other memorabilia collected over his lifetime to the Garst Museum.

Stop by the Garst Museum during the month of March and get to know the entertainers who called Darke County home. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors 60 and over, and $9 for youth (ages 6-17). Become a member to get free admission and enjoy the museum year-round.