Welcome to the Heritage & Culture Center!
Home of the Owen County Heritage Museum
and
the Carnegie Coffee Shoppe & Gift Shop
110 East Market Street
P.O. Box 676
Spencer, Indiana 47460
Open Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We are also open by appointment; contact Vic Kinney to schedule a visit.
The Owen County Heritage & Culture Center is a nonprofit organization housed in the historic Spencer Carnegie Library building. We provide a museum with a variety of displays showcasing the heritage and history of Owen County, and a reference/research library collection and reading area. We also offer a coffee shoppe with homemade baked goods, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, and a gift shop that features a variety of unique and locally-made items, as well as books by local authors (proceeds from coffee/gift shop sales benefit the upkeep of the museum and the building). All of this is in a down-home, relaxed atmosphere, housed in the warm, historic charm of the old library building. No admission fee. Come visit us soon!
Meetings
Meeting schedule will be announced in the spring.
Our Vision
The Craftsman style Carnegie Library Building was built in 1911 on the Spencer Town square and opened in January 1912. It served as a community library for over 85 years. Document storage for Owen County was to be its use for the next several years.
In 2005, the Owen County Heritage & Culture Center Committee was formed by a group of community leaders with the vision for a county-wide center to celebrate the past, present and future of Owen County.
Open Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
We are also open by appointment; contact Vic Kinney to schedule a visit.
Open House on Saturday, September 19th 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
During the Apple Butter Festival
We will have an open house during the Apple Butter Festival on Saturday, September 19th, from 10 AM to 3 PM! Explore Owen County`s history and enjoy the historic charm of the Old Spencer Carnegie Library building (built in 1911). See a variety of exhibits in the museum showcasing the history of Owen County, find all of the “Did You Know” history tidbits scattered throughout the main floor, browse the reference/research collection in the reading area, visit and relax in the coffee shop while enjoying apple-themed baked goods, and check out the local-themed gift shop, which has items such as books, greeting cards, postcards, Ken Bucklew artwork (prints), and Lloyd Wood country music CDs. See the beautifully restored Carnegie library building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Admission is free. Visitors are welcome to a free apple!
The museum is also open by appointment. Contact Vic Kinney to schedule a visit.
Our Mission
The Owen County Heritage & Culture Center strives to bring together the community through the promotion and sharing of our Owen County heritage and culture to enrich our everyday lives. We promote preservation of our artifacts, traditions, arts, crafts, customs and history through workshops, festivals, demonstrations, displays and educational programs.
Join Us!
We need you!! This is a total community project that calls for many hands, ideas, and skills.
If you or your group are interested in helping with this project through
volunteer work and/or funding, or would like more information about available programs,
please email one of the officers listed below or write to us
at P.O. Box 676, Spencer, IN 47460.
Thank You!
Contact Us
President and Museum Curator:
Vic Kinney
vickinney70@gmail.com
Vice President and Gift Shop:
Madi Arnett
madi1943@comcast.net
Acting Secretary:
Bonnie Tinsley
a.tinsley379@comcast.net
Treasurer:
Al Tinsley
a.tinsley379@comcast.net
Webmaster:
Barbara Filtri
webmaster@owencountyindhistory.org