Corning
Heritage Center
Our mission is to preserve the cultural legacy of nineteenth-century Irish immigrants in Southern Indiana.
Former CHC Events
Open House Genealogy 2024
September 7 from 12-5 PM in Curran House
Join Erin Doyle to do some local family history research and genealogy. Feel free to browse the Murphy-Nolan library for your ancestors and get assistance from our local genealogist. All roads lead to Corning!
Eclipse Camping in Corning
Are you looking for a unique, serene, and rural venue for the April 8, 2024 eclipse? The Corning Heritage Center located in Southern Daviess County 10 miles from Exit 62 of I-69 in Washington, Indiana, is offering 20 dry dock tent and RV sites. There will be 3 minutes and 45 seconds totality in Corning during the eclipse at this beautiful and historic site!
Amentities include potable water, porta potties, picnic tables, clear vistas, no light pollution, and free WiFi. Restaurants, groceries, gas, and shopping are within a 10-15 minute drive. Local attractions include the Gasthof Amish Village with a buffet--deemed one of the best in the country. The Glendale Fish and Wildlife Preserve, which includes a 1,400-acre lake, and the Daviess County Museum are also nearby. A scenic, short 35-minute drive will take you to French Lick, the hometown of NBA legend Larry Bird. It also boasts the French Lick Casino and hotel. The Patoka Winery is also a popular destination.
Rates are $100 nightly with a two night minimum payable at time of reservation with no refunds. Payments on-line will be made here after you have contacted us to make the reservation:
Corning in the Christmas Parade 2023
Come to the annual Christmas parade in Washington on December 2 at 6 PM and see the CHC float! We will be handing out candy and information cards along the route. We are looking for volunteers to walk with the float to pass out our goodies, so if you're interested, please contact us on our Facebook Page or by calling Regina at 812-661-2577. We're looking forward to a festive time!
2023 - November 4 Bonfire
November 4 at 6:00 PM will be a hot night in Corning! Join us for a bonfire and good times outside Curran House. We'll have hot dogs with Kramer's coney sauce, marshmallows, Irish music, hot drinks, and plenty of friends! We hope to see you there!
2023 - Genealogy and the Plague
October 14 is the fifth in a series of genealogy programs being offered at the Corning Heritage Center. Join us in Curran House from 12-2:30 PM for an open-house in the McDonald room. Local genealogist Erin Doyle will be there to assist you with our library and your research.
At 3:00 PM, we'll move to Celtic Hall where Erin will give a presentation called "Genealogy and the Plague." Local epidemics and widescale pandemics can drastically affect entire families, and it makes genealogy research even more difficult when record keeping falls apart during a crisis. This presentation discusses what you can do when an outbreak of disease throws up a roadblock in your family research. We hope you can join us! Erin will remain after the the presentation for questions.
If you'd like to see a list of the previous genealogy programs for this year, click here to view our genealogy page.
2023 - Annual Picnic
Sunday, September 17, 2023 is our annual picnic! Join us for an amazing day filled with great food, great entertainment, and great company!
Lunch features Big Al's BBQ with sides and desserts donated by the CHC Board and will be served from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Entertainment includes:
- 12:30 "Molly" with her pony cart rides with owner Heide Kirschner
- 12:30 Eddie Albertson will be singing Irish songs
- 1:30 Patoka Valley Strummers dulcimer group will perform
There will be a membership meeting at 2:30 where all members are welcome to join the board to learn more about us and our organization's goals to preserve our Irish heritage.
Erin Doyle will be in the McDonald room in Curran House to assist with the Nolan-Murphy library and can help you with your genealogy and local history questions.
Steve Smith, photographer, will be available throughout the day to take individual, family, and group photographs.
Auto Indiana - 17 Sep 2023
We have a special feature at this year's annual picnic: a display featuring Hoosier history in automobiles!
From the Indiana Historical Society: "Visitors will take a ride through Indiana’s rich automotive past as they discover the Hoosier State’s prolific contributions. From inventors and innovators like Elwood Haynes and Ralph Teetor to automakers like Studebaker and Duesenberg, Indiana has left an indelible mark on the industry for more than a century – and vice versa."
In this local photograph: From left to right: Anna Thieman, Henry Thieman, Elizabeth Thieman. Car pictured is a 1914 Model "T" Ford. Taken in the city of Dubois, IN.
Cleaning time!
We're looking for members and volunteers to come to Corning to help us clean the buildings and grounds prior to our annual picnic. We'll be at the center on Saturday, September 16, 2023 starting at 10 AM. More hands means less work, and we're always grateful for the assistance!
Genealogical Proof Standards
September 2, 2023 is the fourth in a series of genealogy programs being offered at the Corning Heritage Center. Join us in Curran House from 12-2:30 PM for an open-house in the McDonald room. Local genealogist Erin Doyle will be there to assist you with our library and your research.
At 3:00 PM, we'll move to Celtic Hall where Erin will give a presentation called "Genealogical Proof Standards." A common saying by family researchers is "Genealogy without sources is mythology," but how can you know if the sources you have will help you with your research? That's where the Genealogical Proof Standards (GPS) come in! This introduction to the GPS will give you the resources you need to weigh your sources and test them for validity. We hope you can join us! Erin will remain after the the presentation for questions.
If you'd like to see a list of the future genealogy programs for this year, click here to view our genealogy page.
Finding Women in Genealogy
August 5, 2023 is the third in a series of genealogy programs being offered at the Corning Heritage Center. Join us in Curran House from 12-5 PM for an open-house in the McDonald room. Local genealogist Erin Doyle will be there to assist you with our library and your research.
At 6:00 PM, we'll move to Celtic Hall where Erin will give a presentation called "Hidden Half: finding women in genealogy." Women aren't easy to find in genealogy records in the past, so Erin will give you tips and tricks for where to look to find your female ancestors. We hope you can join us!
If you'd like to see a list of the future genealogy programs for this year, click here to view our genealogy page.
2023 July - Maryland to Kentucky to Indiana Presentation
July 1, 2023 is the second in a series of genealogy programs being offered at the Corning Heritage Center. Join us in Curran House from 12-5 PM for an open-house in the McDonald room. Local genealogist Erin Doyle will be there to assist you with our library and your research. As a special bonus related to the evening's presentation, Erin will be bringing her own collection of Maryland and Kentucky genealogy books for you to browse.
At 6:00 PM, we'll move to Celtic Hall where Erin will give a presentation called "Maryland to Kentucky to Indiana." You'll learn how Maryland was colonized in 1634 by Lord Baltimore and how the descendants of those early colonists became pioneers of central Kentucky before it became a state then moved north into southern Indiana as it became a state. Daviess and Martin Counties were settled heavily by the descendants of the early Maryland colony, so you may find an ancestor dating back to before the American Revolution! What a great way to celebrate America's independance by learning about the people who helped to form the country in its earliest days.
If you'd like to see a list of the future genealogy programs for this year, click here to view our genealogy page.
2023 June - Genealogy for the Absolute Beginner
June 3, 2023 will be the first in a series of genealogy programs being offered at the Corning Heritage Center. Join us in Curran House from 12-5 PM for an open-house in the McDonald room. Local genealogist Erin Doyle will be there to assist you with our library and your research.
At 6:00 PM, we'll move to Celtic Hall where Erin will give a presentation on how to begin doing family research for people who are new to genealogy. If you are brand new to genealogy and want to learn how to start researching your family history, this presentation is for you! Even if you've started working on your family tree, you may find useful information or new ideas, so feel free to join us!
If you'd like to see a list of the future genealogy programs for this year, click here to view our genealogy page.
2023 May - Tea Class!
The Corning Heritage Center will be hosting a special event on Saturday, May 13, 2023 in Celtic Hall at 2:00 PM! Local tea enthusiast, Erin Doyle, will be presenting on the topic of tea: its history, how it is brewed, the various types, and more! Included with this presentation is a tea tasting of five different styles of tea and one herbal. The program runs about 90 minutes. Come learn about this part of Irish culture that dates back hundreds of years and enjoy some unique teas with us!
If you have questions, leave us a comment on our Facebook page.
2022 Fall Picnic this September 18!
Join us on Sunday, September 18 for great food, entertainment, fellowship, genealogy, and a beautiful setting!
Lunch is a free will donation.
Join us from 11 AM to 5 PM!
Harvest Home this October
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Where: Celtic Hall at the Corning Irish Heritage Center
When: Saturday, March 14 (or the 21st if the weather is too bad)
Time: 5:00 PM
Fare: Irish Coddle or fish & chips, baked beans, salad, soda bread, desserts, tea, bottled water, and coffee
We will also have Irish music, a cash bar, and door prizes!
March is our membership month. We are a non-profit 510(c)3. Memberships are $20. Renew or become a new member! Our membership fees help to defray costs of mailing quarterly newsletters, utilities, insurance, etc. Proceeds from this dinner will help to benefit Corning Irish Heritage Center's various projects.
We invite you to come see what we're all about!
na Skylark Trio
Doors open at 4:45 PM with dinner 4:45-5:45 PM
Themed menu for $5: bangers & potato salad, Amish bread, hot dogs, cookies, soft drinks, and bottled water
Cash bar serving Irish beer and domestic wines
Patchwork Music and Entertainment
Doors open at 4:45 with dinner 4:45-5:45 PM
Themed menu for $5: Donegal steak, gravy & potatoes, Amish bread, hot dogs, cookies, soft drinks, and bottled water
Cash bar serving Irish beer and domestic wines.
Special note: Holly was the guest performer for Eunan McIntyre's concert in 2017!
Midwest Station Bluegrass Band
Doors open at 4:45 with dinner 4:45-5:45 PM
Themed menu for $5: ham & beans, corn bread, hot dogs, cookies, soft drinks, and bottled water
Cash bar serving Irish beer and domestic wines
A Poet's Pilgrimage on the Wabash and Erie Canal
Doors open at 5:00 with free Irish tea and scones (first serving only) from 5:00-5:55 PM.
Soft drinks and bottled water available
No cash bar for this event