GREENE VILLE RUINS DISCOVERED BENEATH GREENVILLE, OHIO

04-15-2008

 

Now On Display at Garst Museum Featuring The Largest Collection of Federalist Period Artifacts Ever Shown

 

Greenville, Ohio - April 14, 2007 - America's largest western outpost in the 1790's is underneath Greenville, Ohio. 

 

Much like archaeological sites in Rome or Jerusalem, an old world was discovered beneath a modern city. For the first time, these artifacts, along with the epic stories that define them, will be displayed in the much anticipated exhibition - Crossroads of Destiny, Indians, Settlement, and Treaty of Greene Ville. It opens to the public April 20, 2008 at Garst Museum and Annie Oakley Center in Greenville, Ohio as a permanent one-of-a-kind collection. 

 

Greenville's city streets and area farmlands have produced the most artifacts from one place for the Federalist Period (1789 -1801), also referred as the Critical Period in this nation's history. It is after all, the site of the United States Army headquarters from 1793 - 1796 and the signing of one of the most significant treaties in history - the 1795 Treaty of Greene Ville - involving 12 Indian nations and the U.S. 

 

Most of the artifacts had not surfaced until the past 20 years, now telling a more accurate story sharing many new revelations of the lives and times leading into the crossroads of America's destiny depicted in 28 displays spanning four rooms showcasing more than 1,000 artifacts.

 

The beginning of the self-guided tour shares the tools used by prehistoric Native Americans featuring stone knives and spear heads, choppers and scrapers and continues through the periods of time to show an atlatl, arrowheads and the first meeting of colliding cultures - Indian and White Man.

 

One of the most remarkable display cases shows old tools directly next to their "modern" counterparts. A stone axe head is contrasted by a metal axe head, flint knives vs. iron knives, stone pipes next to clay pipes, clay bowls contrasted by brass pots and so on and so forth.

 

The exhibits not only share authentic area findings such as froes, adzes and cannon balls, it digs deep into the lifestyles of foot soldiers compared to officers of the United States Army in the years it was headquartered at Fort Greene Ville, the largest stockade fort ever built in North America. Two vastly different worlds are revealed within just the white man's ranks as officers ate from fine china and drank from wine glasses as foot soldiers and militia ate from wooden bowls and drank from tin cups.

 

Even the modern amenities of the 1790's seem barbaric by today's standards. The collection of medical supplies makes one appreciate today's health care. Other interesting and revealing exhibits display surveyor tools including compasses and an interactive music display that plays various military tunes of the time at a touch of buttons featuring revelry, TAPS and chow music.

 

Not only are the displays presented in historically accurate terms but they tell a compelling and memorable story that has been all but lost in our history lessons. Everyone is aware of the 300 American lives lost at Little Big Horn during Custer's last stand but that number is easily tripled for St. Claire's Defeat at Ft. Recovery in western Ohio leading to the Crossroads of Destiny.

 

"These findings prove or disprove folklore," said Tony DeRegnacourt, Archaeologist. "We aren't just learning about the events of the time, but the behaviors of foot soldiers, officers and Native Americans that were put on a collision course as America sought to open the Northwest Territory for conquest and settlement."

 

Crossroads of Destiny, Indians, Settlement, and Treaty of Greene Ville is opening April 20, 2008 at Garst Museum and Annie Oakley Center, located at 205 North Broadway in Greenville, OH  45331. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Admission is $5/adult, $3.00/Senior, and $2.00 for Students age 6-18. Members of Garst Museum are admitted free. For further information, call 937-548-5250 or see www.garstmuseum.org.

 

 

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