Westerville History Museum

The Westerville History Museum connects you to historical collections and learning experiences. Westerville’s anti-alcohol efforts shaped the course of American history and gave the community a unique legacy. Deepen your understanding of your community and its place in the world.

Exhibits

At the Museum

The World of William Fouse

As the 1st Black graduate of Westerville High School and Otterbein University, Fouse broke barriers. But that's just part of his story.

The Art of Propaganda (On Display: Apr 30-Nov 30, 2024)

Delve into examples of propaganda that include pieces from the Prohibition era on display for the first time.

Westerville Division of Water

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Westerville's water treatment plant. Special thanks to Westerville Division of Water.

Online

Anti-Saloon League (Virtual Exhibit)

A national temperance organization with Westerville roots, learn how it influenced the US passage of the Prohibition Amendment.

Breaking the Ice: Trailblazing Women of Westerville

For over 200 years, women with passion, persistence, and courage have shaped the course of Westerville's history. (Virtual Exhibit)

Self-Guided Walking Tours

Step back in time with a self-guided walking tour. Features 40+ points of interest. View on a browser or download the app.

Collection

The Westerville History Museum collection includes over 50,000 images and scanned documents related to Westerville, Ohio - from the 1800s to present day. Includes images of prominent leaders in the community, Westerville-area landmarks, aerial views, high school classes, former businesses, houses, and more.

Browse by Topic

Anti-Saloon League

Browse publications & interoffice correspondence of the Anti-Saloon League, a major force in the Prohibition movement in the early 1900s.

Black History

Learn about over 200 years of Black history in Westerville, from education and religion to business and politics.

Hanby Collection (Westerville Historical Society)

Browse the research collection of Dacia Shoemaker, the preservationist who saved Hanby House. Courtesy of Westerville Historical Society.

Historic Photographs

From the late 1800s to today, discover historic photographs of people, buildings, and events in Westerville, Ohio.

Historic Maps

From the 1800s to today, view historic maps of Westerville and the surrounding area.

John R. Kasich

Congressman. Governor. Neighbor. Ohio politician John Kasich made Westerville his home. Browse congressional & senate papers.

Obituaries

From 1880 to the present, learn about the lives of Westerville residents with this collection of local obituaries.

Oral Histories

Hear memories about Westerville from the people who lived here, in their own words.

Temperance and Prohibition Movement, 1830-1933

Discover the records and publications of one of the most influential forces for social reform during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Underground Railroad

Learn how freedom seekers self-emancipated and journeyed through Westerville on their quest for freedom from slavery.

Wedding Announcements

From 1880 to the present, learn about who got married with this collection of local wedding announcements.

View All Digitized Records

Explore over 16,000 scanned images, newspaper articles, and other documents about Westerville history.

View All Records

Dig into the past with historical records about local civic organizations, buildings, homes, churches, city departments, and schools.

Museum Hours

Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm
Closed on Saturday: 1-2pm
Closed on Sunday

To view current exhibits, walk-in visitors welcome during open hours.

Plan Your Visit

For research or access to physical collections, please make an appointment.

Make a Research Appointment

The museum’s mission is to preserve and share Westerville’s history through its collections of national and local interest. Every year, over 12,000 people visit the museum and have a chance to interact with the collections through exhibitions, programming, and research. The museum is in a wing of the library that was originally built in the 1850s as a home. The building later became an office space for a national temperance organization called the Anti-Saloon League (ASL), a group that successfully lobbied for Prohibition in the early 1900s. The ASL donated the building and its contents to the library in 1973, which eventually became the basis for the museum.

Westerville History MuseumWesterville History Museum

As the site of the Anti-Saloon League’s former headquarters, the Westerville History Museum works to preserve the history of the temperance movement, the passage of the 18th Amendment, and the Prohibition era.

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