Garst Celebrates with Free Holiday Open House on December 6, 2025!
- The Garst Museum
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Garst Museum will hold its annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a perfect time to visit the museum and see the incredible holiday decorations. As a gift from the museum, admission is free on this day only.
A visit to the Garst Museum gives you a wonderful opportunity to discover the history of Darke County. What would it have been like to walk through the center of Greenville or one of the surrounding towns in the early 1900s? You will find out as you stroll through the Villages Wing of the museum. Discover what a local home may have looked like in the Americana Wing or the equipment used on the farm in the Pioneer Wing.
You can also learn more about how Greenville came to be when you visit the Crossroads of Destiny exhibit. You will learn which historical figures were stationed at the encampment in Greene Ville and the vital role Greenville played in shaping America through the Treaty of Greene Ville.
Of course, a visit to the Garst Museum would not be complete without learning about the individuals who came from Greenville and earned worldwide fame. Annie Oakley turned her ability to shoot wild game with deadly accuracy into an entertainment career that took her around the world to perform for and meet heads of state. Learn more about Lowell Thomas, who was born just north of Greenville, and went on to travel the world reporting on World War I and delivering the news. You will also learn how his writings and documentary films about T.E. Lawrence (a.k.a. Lawrence of Arabia) turned a British officer into a cultural icon.
One day to discover everything the museum holds is not nearly enough. The Garst Museum Holiday Open House is the perfect time to become a member. Become a member or renew your membership during the month of December, and you will be entered into a drawing for one of several gift cards. Membership means free membership for the entire year as well as a 10% discount at the Garst Museum Store, an exclusive invitation to museum events, and free access to the Research Center. Individual memberships are $30, and family memberships are $50.
If you are looking for a gift for someone special, the Garst Museum Store is the perfect place to stop. During the Holiday Open House, you could save even more. The museum will have shoppers “spin the wheel” for a discount. Wherever the wheel stops, that is how much money you will save on your purchase.
Right now, you don’t even need to “spin the wheel” to save money on one of the newest items in the store. Don Mong’s latest book, Greenville My Home Town in the Great Darke County, 2nd Edition, is available at the museum or on Amazon for $30. The book features 50 new illustrations from Mong and captions written by Stephen Gruber and researched by the Garst Museum staff. In addition to the 50 new illustrations, all of the illustrations from the first edition of the book are included. All of the proceeds from the book benefit the Garst Museum. The book was originally priced at $49.95. The discount will run through January 31, 2026.
Garst ornaments are still available at the Garst Museum Store. These ornaments were made from one of the trees that was destroyed by the tornado in 2024.
The Garst Museum Holiday Open House will be a joyous time for all to enjoy the museum. A quartet from DeColores Montessori School will be performing from 1-3 p.m., and visitors can view all of the Christmas Trees decorated by local organizations and individuals. This year’s trees will follow the theme of America 250 in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The trees are decorated by the Ladybug Garden Club, Junior Butterflies Garden Club, Annie Oakley Center Foundation, Greenville VFW Auxiliary, Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Lee Ann McAlpine, and Steve & Christa Gruber.
Free refreshments will also be available during the open house.
