July 8-11 | 9am - 12pm

This Year's History Camp

Solving the Mysteries of William Elmer Harmon
​Namesake of the Harmon Museum
Many folks living in the Warren County area may know that a man named William Elmer Harmon gave to Lebanon, Ohio, the place of his birth, a park that now bears his name. There is, however, a lot more intriguing, and somewhat mysterious, aspects to this generous man who gave his hometown a park.

Campers at the Warren County Historical Society's 2024 History Camp will explore the Harmon Museum, the Lebanon Cemetery, and the city of Lebanon in an attempt to uncover the answers to a dozen or more questions about Mr. Harmon.

Some of them are:
  • Why did he spend part of his youth in frontier forts in the wild American West?
  • Why is there a plaque dedicated to his mother in the Lebanon Public Library?
  • How did he become a millionaire?
  • How did his brother, Clifford, get the sixth airplane pilot's license ever issued?
  • Why are there well over 100 Harmon Parks across the United States?
  • Why is Harmon often singled out as the one individual who began a worldwide appreciation of African American art and artists?
  • How is he related to the Wright Brothers of early aviation fame?
  • Why was there once a bowling alley in the basement of the Harmon Museum?​
  • How did his great-grandfather, Jedediah Tingle, start writing letters and giving gift to folks over 50 years after he had died?!?

Why History Camp?

Camp is a great opportunity for kids to make new friends and socialize with other children of different ages!

What Ages is History Camp for?

History Camp is for students entering fourth through eighth grades in the fall.

More Information

Our award winning* History Camp is run by Historian and Educational Director, John Zimkus and Assistant Director, Jeanne Doan.
*History Outreach Award from Ohio Local History Alliance

To Register

$55 for Warren County Historical Society members
$75 for non-members. 

(Not a member? Click here to become one!)
​Please download and complete our registration form.
​Mail or deliver the completed form (along with payment if you intend to pay by check) to:

​Warren County Historical Society
105 South Broadway
​Lebanon, OH 45036

Celebrating 30+ Years of History Camp!

"The HER-story of Pioneering Women of Warren County."
“U.S. Presidents, First Families and US.”
“New Discoveries from the Past.”
“Southwest Ohio: From Forest to Farms and Settlements to Cities.”
"Transportation Transformations"
"Home Sweet Home: Living in Southwest Ohio in the Early 19th Century"
"Protect & Serve: The History of First Responders in Southwest Ohio"
"From the Balloon to the Moon: Southwest Ohio’s Contributions to the Flight of Man"
"Following the Tracks of the Underground Railroad in Warren County"
"Uncovering the Mysteries of the First Ohioans”
Lincoln's Call to Arms: Warren County and the Civil War"
“Museums Without Walls: The Cemeteries of Southwest Ohio”
... ​AND MANY MORE!!!