History, Arts, & Culture at Home and in Nearby Cities

Fort St. Clair was a regular and militia troops fort under General James Wilkinson, who built the supply post and defensive fortification in March 1792 in preparation for General “Mad Anthony” Wayne’s campaign against the Indians of the Northwest Territory, following disastrous expeditions in 1790 and 1791.

One of the responsibilities of the Preble County Library is to maintain community records and genealogy. Please choose any of our locally maintained resources or explore a list of valuable databases our team has carefully curated for you. If you have questions about any of these databases, please contact our staff.

The Preble County Historical Society - where an exciting past is your future. This non-profit organization was organized in 1971 and just celebrated 50 years with the mission to preserve and promote Preble County history for all generations. The center is a 255-acre farmstead located at 7693 Swartsel Road in Eaton Ohio (off Ohio 122 South).

The property includes an 1860’s original farmhouse, an 1813 Log Home, a Bank Barn, an 1855 Smokehouse, and a Large Exhibit Hall full of collections from all around Preble County. Recently the society built a brand-new outdoor education and events center, to host educational groups, schools, homeschool clubs, scouting activities, small weddings, and other programs.

You will also find 5 hiking trails on the property full of exploration, native plants, bridges, and a historic creek that runs through. You'll find a large outdoor amphitheater for concerts, theatre productions, dance recitals, and more. If you would like to schedule your group, small or large, please contact us to book your program. We are excited about our 2023 theme "The Year of Restoration." The possibilities are endless. Our park is OPEN 7 days a week from dawn until dusk.

The PCAA is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to fostering a creative community.  We operate Preble Arts, located in downtown Eaton, where great things happen!

Tap into your creativity through our classes and workshops (watercolor, pastels, acrylics, ceramics, music, leather and metal stamping, and more)! We are always working on new projects that weave art into our community!