Welcome to the Butler County Historical Society and Museum
The Butler County Historical Society is a private non-profit organization that formed in 1934 to preserve and promote the history of Butler County. The society, incorporated in 1948, owns and operates the Benninghofen House Museum, a high-Italian style home built in 1863 that is filled with the furnishings of a wealthy family during the Victorian era. It also manages the Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument on Front Street and the McCloskey Wonder Works(Temporarily located at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park).
What’s Happening at BCHS?
Upcoming events:
December Lecture Series “Imagine What If? Butler County’s Biggest Dreams that Never Were”-Saturday December 13, 2025 1:00pm
December 24, 2025 Open 9:00am-12:00pm
December 25 & 26, 2025 CLOSED
December 31, 2025 Open 9:00am-12:00pm
January 1-23, 2026 The BCHS will be closed to the public for our annual building maintenance and changing of exhibits. We will re-open to the public on Saturday January 24, 2026 and resume our regular business hours.
January Lecture Series “Peck’s Addition: Rediscovering Hamilton’s Forgotten Appalachian Neighborhood”-Saturday January 24, 2026 1:00pm
Current Exhibit
Christmas at the Museum!
“Christmastime at the Butler County Historical Society”
The Butler County Master Gardeners have beautifully decorated the museum for Christmas! Come see our vintage toy display along with the decorations, available now through the end of December.
Upcoming Event
“Imagine What If? Butler County’s Biggest Dreams that Never Were”
Saturday December 13, 2025: 1:00pm
“Imagine What If? Butler County’s Biggest Dreams that Never Were”
A Union Terminal-like train station in downtown Hamilton, the Cincinnati Bengals in West Chester, an immense auto manufacturing facility in Monroe. These are just a few of the topics to be discussed by BCHS Executive Director Brian Smith as he highlights the county’s biggest near misses, pipe dreams, and boondoggles through its history.
Admission is free for BCHS members or $5.00 for non-members payable at the door. Reservations are required-and limited to 100-please use the link on the website to register. If you have any questions please call BCHS at 513-896-9930!