Atlas Obscura · People & society

Allen County Historical Museum's Unique Grosjean Room

The Allen County Historical Society and Museum in Lima, Ohio, features the unique James E. Grosjean Room, a mechanical display that offers a nostalgic glimpse into the town's past.

The Grosjean Room is a distinctive attraction, predating modern animatronics with its folk art-style mechanical display. When activated, lights dim, a soundtrack plays, and a filmstrip narrates a scene, notably depicting Noah's Ark with animals and a dove.

James E. Grosjean, a polymath including roles as an undertaker, shoe salesman, inventor, and historian, was responsible for this elaborate creation. His "Noah's Ark" display, built in 1901, has a history of being a window attraction for major retailers like Marshall Fields and Macy's, and even his own shoe store.

Despite its current home, Grosjean's ark was initially rejected by the Pan-American Exposition. He later exhibited it independently near Niagara Falls. Grosjean was president of the Allen County Historical Society from 1915 to 1938, ensuring his creations and community artifacts remained in the museum's collection.

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