Lew Wallace had several patents to his name and was intrigued by the scientific advances of the 19th century. He was not, however, the only member of his family to be intrigued by and embrace new technology. All those who Facebook, email, text and tweet should take a moment to […]
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Lew Wallace’s last major work was his autobiography. He spent years preparing his research and was actively writing it at the turn of the 20th century. As with his other major creative efforts, Wallace worked for years on the book. He approached the writing in chronological order but unfortunately died […]
On Thursday, May 6, 1852, Lew Wallace married Susan Elston in the Elston Homestead in Crawfordsville. As he wrote in his Autobiography, “On May 6, 1852, I was able to go to Crawfordsville and be married. If my great happiness over the event so long in expectancy was tinctured ever so slightly with […]
In large measure, we have Isaac Elston to thank for the creation of Lew Wallace’s Study. Isaac was Lew’s father-in-law and Lew and Susan Wallace inherited about 5 acres from her father along Wabash Avenue in the 1860s. Isaac Elston (1794-1867) was born in New Jersey and began his life […]
In the spring of 1872, Lew Wallace travelled about 100 miles north to the Allegheny House on Lake Maxinkuckee to fish and to put the finishing touches on his first major novel, The Fair God. Wallace had been working on the book intermittently for almost 30 years. He had the time […]
“I resolved to give up the dream. Still it haunts me. At this day even, I cannot look at a great picture without envying its creator the delight he must have had the while it was in evolution.” This quote from Lew Wallace conveys his appreciation for the arts and the […]
Over the years, there have been questions as to whether or not Lew Wallace and Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) ever crossed paths. There is anecdotal information that perhaps they did, but no clear and definitive proof. In 2002, a message was left on our museum answering machine from a fellow […]
Memorial Day is a federal holiday throughout the United States that honors the men and women who died while in military service. For years, the holiday has been observed on the last Monday in May. Many older people remember this holiday as Decoration Day, which was established in the years […]
The Humorist from Hell – Ted Shane 101 years ago, the 1925 epic film version of Ben-Hur was released by MGM. It received almost universal applause—almost. It was the most expensive silent movie ever made with sequences filmed overseas and in the United States. It cost a reported $5,000,000. Upon its release, […]
The citizens of Crawfordsville have been fighting fire for almost 200 years—both professionally and with volunteers. After Lew Wallace completed his service on the military tribunals that handled the Lincoln conspirators and Commander Wirz in 1865, he headed south to Mexico. He had been in Mexico just prior to the […]