Current Exhibits at the Tuttle

Defiance Machine Works had its start as a small foundry by the Miami and Erie Canal. It grew to one of the largest factories in Defiance, producing machinery for manufacturers around the world and had an important role as a war plant in WWI and WWII. This exhibit is sponsored by the Defiance Chamber of Commerce.

Dinner Bell Foods Inc. grew from a small beginning as Defiance Sausage Works to be a large Defiance area employer with a loyal and dedicated work force. Old photos, documents, dinner bell advertising, and artifacts document Dinner Bell Food, Inc. story.

Journey back in time through the lens of Henry Roehrs in an exhibit of his photographs of Defiance at the turn of the last century.

As cameras and film became available to amateur photographers, Henry Roehrs joined others, like Edward Bronson, snapping pictures of his hometown. Roehrs documented public buildings, businesses, the canal and railroads, and events in Defiance from the early 1900s. Thanks to a donation of these photos by his granddaughter, Rita Meier, we are able to share them with the community.

The Miami and Erie Canal played an important role in the early development and growth of Defiance. Photographs and artifacts give a glimpse into the canal's history that once was very prevalent in the Defiance downtown area.

Defiance's Attic, a continuing exhibit of items from the Tuttle's collection, is now featuring some favorite memories of Vivian Keenan's millinery shop, Defiance Milk Products, Defiance Grocery Company, an air show ad, and much much more. Check out these and other Defiance memorabilia in Defiance's Attic.

This exhibit describes the Great Black Swamp and answers questions regarding its formation, location, size, and impact on the region. Where did it go?

The Turnbull factory once occupied an expansive plant on the south bank of the Maumee, where for over 50 years they produced wagons, wheels, and motor trucks. Follow the story of this Defiance manufacturer in this exhibit. This exhibit is sponsored by Thomas E. Keller Trucking and affiliate of Keller Logistics Group.

Early commerce in the Defiance area was conducted by trade and barter; the need for currency arose with the development of businesses, factories, and taxes. The first forms of banking were provided by people involved in insurance and real estate. Locally issued currency from two of these Defiance banking houses is displayed in the inner vault exhibit. The exhibit features bank notes from the collection of Jim Hamilton/Hamilton AMM LLC Trust, and is sponsored by Premier Bank.

This exhibit describes the impact of the Maumee, Auglaize, and Tiffin Rivers on the Defiance area. The confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers is a major natural feature of the area, used by Native Americans and early European traders and soldiers to identify the region.

The Native American artifacts currently on display represent only a small part of Andrew Tuttle's collection of ground stone objects and pottery. The items are believed to be artifacts of the Archaic, Glacial Kame, and Adena cultures.

This exhibit explores the development of a number of local banks and savings and loan institutions. Included are brief histories of banks founded in Defiance, vintage photographs and bank items, and unusual stories. This exhibit is sponsored by State Bank, which was founded in 1902, and is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.

One hundred years ago, women in the United States won the vote and celebrated their first nationwide participation in the 1920 presidential election. The focus of the Booze, Ballots, and a Better World exhibit is the Temperance Movement and the fight for Women's Suffrage. The exhibit features the stories of women in Defiance and how their activism changed society, and society's view of women's place.

The outbreak of America's Civil War brought great changes and challenges to the money system on both sides of the conflict. The governments of the North and South needed to find ways to keep the economy running, while dealing with paper and metal shortages, and the rising costs of war. These pressures changed our form of currency to this day. Historical figures and classical symbols on coins and paper money expressed the values and ideals of both sides. Come explore this interesting era through a variety of Civil War era currency. The exhibit includes examples of paper money, coins, and other forms of exchange.