Garst Museum will Host a Victorian Tea Honoring Annie Oakley on October 17, 2026, at 2 P.M.

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the death of a Darke County legend. On November 3, 1926, Annie Oakley (aka Phoebe Ann Moses) succumbed to pernicious anemia at the home of Misses Broderick and Zemer on West Third Street in Greenville.

To honor the woman who traveled the world exhibiting her sharpshooting skills, but always came back home to Darke County, Garst Museum will feature Annie Oakley at its October 17, 2026, Speaker Series event.

Oakley was born in northern Darke County, and her early years were marked by heartache, poverty, and uncertainty. However, everything she endured shaped who she became and what she accomplished.

On Saturday, October 17, at 2 p.m., Cait Clark, administrative director of the Garst Museum, will present the program “From Riffle Sights to Equal Rights: Annie Oakley’s Fight for Women’s Equality.”

Clark will explore Oakley's lasting impact on women's rights, from demanding equal pay to volunteering with a women's unit during World War I and beyond.

This event will also feature a Victorian Tea. The tea reflects Oakley’s love for the finer things life had to offer. Although she had humble beginnings and traveled a lot, there is ample evidence on exhibit at the National Annie Oakley Center that Little Miss Sure Shot appreciated nice things. The tea will be served during the presentation. There is no cost for museum members. The cost for non-members is $5. Reservations for the tea are due by Oct. 10. Call the museum at 937-548-5250 and ask for Cait to reserve your seat, or email Clark at caitlyn.clark@garstmuseum.org. Non-members can pay at the door.