Events

Exhibits

Both the Boldman House Museum and the Dayton Historic Depot have rotating exhibits.

Presently:

• The Boldman House: A walk through this house museum is a journey through time. You’ll see glimpses of “life-as-it-was” from nearly every decade of the 20th century and will experience what an early 20th-century parlor, music room, dining room, kitchen, and bedroom looked like. In addition to the artifacts on permanent exhibit in each of these rooms, the Boldman House features a few rotating exhibits. These are currently focused on the Boldman farming artifacts, the historic drugstores of Dayton where the Boldmans purchased medicinal items, and the Boldman artifacts related to funerals and the Pioneer Cemetery. On non-event days, the museum manager will provide guided tours. There is also a self-guided tour booklet for those visitors who only have a few minutes to stop by or who visit on event days.
• The Upstairs Gallery at the Dayton Historic Depot: Discover the rich history of Dayton’s earliest settlers through the Pioneer Cemetery Exhibit at the Dayton Historic Depot Museum. This special exhibit highlights the stories of four prominent families interred at the Pioneer Cemetery: the Day, Gilbreath, Rose, and Boldman families. Each vignette explores their contributions to the region’s development and their lasting legacies in Dayton’s history.
  Visitors will enjoy a blend of compelling narratives, historical images, and detailed family trees that bring these stories to life. Artifacts from the Boldman Collection—including funeral attire, journals, and perpetual care tools—provide an intimate look at 19th-century burial practices and the personal experiences of these families.
  To deepen the connection between past and present, the exhibit offers a self-guided tour booklet, inviting visitors to explore the Pioneer Cemetery, located just two miles from the museum. This immersive experience bridges the gap between the museum’s interpretive space and the final resting place of these trailblazers.
  Whether you’re a history enthusiast or seeking to understand more about Dayton’s heritage, the Pioneer Cemetery Exhibit offers a meaningful exploration of the lives and legacies that shaped our community. Join us and uncover the stories that continue to resonate today.

  The exhibit will be on display through December 2025.

The Depot building and grounds are a special place to hold your events, such as weddings, receptions, parties, family reunions, or office workshops.  Inside gatherings can be held in the Waiting Room and Ticket Office downstairs or in the Upstairs Gallery that has a small kitchen adjacent.  The Depot balcony is a wonderful place from which to toss a wedding bouquet!

The outside courtyard is made of smooth, stamped concrete under a beautiful tree canopy and has ample room for tables and chairs.  The perimeter is lined with built-in wooden benches and attractive landscaping.  Adjacent to the courtyard is a lawn area that can be used separately or in conjunction with courtyard events.

The Depot is located across the alley from the Hotel Hardware, a newly renovated lodging establishment with a rooftop lounge.  It is a wonderful place for honeymooners.

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