Hamilton County residents looking to connect with the region’s past — and with each other — will have the chance later this month at the Hamilton East Public Library’s free Local History Fair.
Titled “Sharing Our Story,” the open-house event runs Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Noblesville Library. It’s designed to celebrate local history while marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, known as America250.
The fair brings together history organizations, preservation groups and community partners from across the county under one roof. Visitors can wander among booths and talk with representatives from groups dedicated to keeping Hamilton County’s stories alive. At check-in, each attendee receives a “history passport” and can collect stamps from participating booths throughout the afternoon. Completed passports earn a prize and an entry into a raffle drawing.
“The Crossroads Discovery Center at HEPL is excited to welcome visitors to our Local History Fair,” said Jessica Layman, Local History and Genealogy Librarian at the library. “This event was inspired by the America250 anniversary and the idea of sharing stories. Whether you’ve been a Hamilton County resident for generations or just moved here, sharing stories is how community gets built.”
Beyond the exhibits, attendees can visit the Crossroads Discovery Center on the library’s second floor for demonstrations on how to research and share their own family stories and personal histories.
The afternoon’s keynote comes at 2 p.m., when local author, realtor and longtime storyteller Kurt Meyer presents “Story Telling: From Novels to Blogging to Social Media” in Meeting Room B. A lifelong Hoosier, Meyer has published nearly 300 newspaper columns and feature stories and wrote the novels “Noblesville” and “The Salvage Man,” both set in the city. His talk traces how storytelling has changed across formats while remaining a way to connect communities and preserve history.
“Story telling is the best way I know of to learn about history and the world around us,” Meyer said. “Even the retelling of our own personal stories helps us better see ourselves honestly. I’ve enjoyed doing that as a newspaper columnist, a blogger, and a social media content creator.”
Participating organizations include the Clay Township Military Museum and Library, Conner Prairie, Fishers Historical Society, Hamilton County Historical Society, Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, the Hamilton East Public Library Foundation, Roberts Settlement, Sheridan Historical Society, Westfield Preservation Alliance and Westfield Washington Historical Society.
Displays open at 1 p.m. and stay up through the close of the event. The fair continues after the keynote, with the exhibits and raffle wrapping up at 4 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. For more information, visit the Hamilton East Public Library event calendar or call the library at 317-770-3236.