LIMA, Ohio – The Allen County Fair is celebrating a milestone this year, and organizers have created a special exhibit to commemorate its history.
The “Mooseum,” located beneath the grandstand, has been a 10-year project for organizers, who have curated a collection reflecting the fair’s past. Many of the exhibits were donated by Allen County families who have strong ties to the fair, while others were discovered after hours of searching archives.
Some of the photos on display are more than a century old. Visitors can also see one of the original snow cone stands used 75 years ago, as well as a variety of 4-H and junior fair items from previous years.
“Our goal in creating the museum this year was to showcase the Allen County Fair’s rich history through artifacts.” Many fair artifacts, such as tickets and food containers, do not survive because everything is temporary. But there are some items that have stood the test of time, such as trophies, plaques, and jackets. So we thought it was important to bring all of that together and display it,” said Chad Hughes, who put together the Mooseum.
Visitors to a grandstand event this week, or simply walking around the fairgrounds, are encouraged to stop by the “Mooseum.” The exhibit also includes a documentary about the first 175 years of the Allen County Fair.
