Mission: To collect, preserve, research, interpret, and exhibit the genealogy, history, and artifacts of the communities within the Flat Rock/Hawcreek Townships in order to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our unique history and how we fit into the larger historical narrative of Bartholomew County, the state of Indiana, and our nation.
The museum was established in 1975 by local citizens who wanted to create a space for collecting and displaying artifacts donated by the townspeople. The museum tells the story of Hope’s heritage, and its name comes from an early 20th-century local advertising campaign that encouraged people to “follow the Yellow Trail” to Hope. The museum aims to engage visitors with the history of this small town and its unique past.