Dubois County Museum Hosts Membership Dinner and Mining Program

The Dubois County Museum will welcome members and the public to its Membership Dinner on Thursday, January 22, 2026, with a program beginning at approximately 5:15 p.m. The evening will feature a series of presentations on mining in Dubois County, followed by a catered meal at about 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and RSVPs are due by January 14, 2026.

The program will open with a discussion by Randy Wellmeyer on mining in the Duff-Huntingburg area, a topic that touches on the county’s industrial past and local landscapes shaped by extraction activities. Tom Fierst will follow with a presentation on the silver mining bust that affected Dubois County in the late 1880s, an episode that contributed to shifts in the local economy and settlement patterns. Additional historical insights will be provided by Jim Corn, completing a local overview intended to deepen community understanding of the county’s mining legacy.

After the presentations, Oink Inc. Catering will serve a meal that includes brisket, smoked chicken, German fried potatoes, baked beans, green beans and dinner rolls. Dessert options will include Dirt Pudding, cupcakes and cookies. A cash bar will be available during the event. The museum has asked attendees to return the enclosed RSVP slip from the mailed invitation by post, or to use the museum donation page or the lobby desk to register and pay before the January 14 deadline.

Membership dinners like this one serve both educational and operational purposes for the museum. They provide a forum for sharing local history, strengthen ties between residents and cultural institutions, and contribute to the museum’s financial base through ticket sales and memberships. For residents interested in local governance, land use, or economic history, the presentations offer context for how past extractive industries shaped present-day communities and public infrastructure.

Local residents planning to attend should note the RSVP deadline and the $25 per person charge. Returning the mailed slip, visiting the museum lobby desk, or using the museum donation page will secure a spot. The museum expects the program to appeal to members, local historians, and anyone with an interest in Dubois County’s heritage.