Photo by WeaponizingArchitecture, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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About Allen County Museum
The Allen County Museum in Lima, Ohio, presents a compact campus that spans half a city block, where the centerpiece is a 1925 Lima‑built No. 10 Shay locomotive— a three‑foot‑gauge, two‑truck geared engine weighing roughly 24 tons. Inside, visitors explore a Victorian mansion, a log house, a Children’s Discovery Center, extensive railroad archives, and a Children’s Garden, while the museum’s accredited status reflects its adherence to national museum standards.
History
The Allen County Historical Society, formed in 1908, serves as the operator of the Allen County Museum. After outgrowing Memorial Hall, the Society raised private funds in the 1930s, but World War II delayed the building project; the museum’s cornerstone—set with a stone from the original White House—is laid in 1954. Since that time the Society has expanded the campus and, in partnership with the American Alliance of Museums, secured accreditation, a distinction held by fewer than 800 of more than 11,000 U.S. museums.
The Trains
The museum’s rail collection centers on Shay Locomotive No. 10, a 3‑foot‑gauge, two‑truck geared engine built by the Lima Locomotive Works in 1925 for the Lima Stone Company; the locomotive weighs roughly 24 tons. It was rescued from scrap in 1953, restored at no cost by Baldwin‑Lima‑Hamilton for the Allen County Historical Society, and now sits behind the museum’s iron‑clad window structure as the visual centerpiece of the site.
Nearby
The Allen County Museum is a worthwhile Ohio stop for transportation history — plan time to see the collection.
Where to Stay
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Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Book tours & activities nearby
Pre-book guided tours and things to do around the area.
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