The Thorntown Heritage Museum at 124 W. Main Street is in a home that was built between 1863 and 1867 by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shipp.  The lot is part of the original plat (laid out in 1829-30) of Thorntown from the United States of America to Cornelius Westfall, founder of Thorntown.  Mr. & Mrs. E.J. Barker bought the house in 1946 and it was well maintained. In 1977, Mildred Spencer (The Barkers’ daughter), donated the property to the Society for the Preservation of Our Indian Heritage in memory of her husband (Harold S. Spencer) and her parents because of their lifelong interest in Thorntown and its historic past. SPIH received the property and converted it into a museum that was opened on September 24-25, 1977, in time for the fifth annual Festival of the Turning Leaves.  Allan Woody was president of the museum committee at that time, and donations of area artifacts were solicited and received from area residents.

In 1999, The Society (SPIH) officially changed its name to the Sugar Creek Historical Society. In 2010, the Thorntown Public Library took ownership of the Thorntown Heritage Museum and now partners with the Sugar Creek Historical Society in the management of the building and programing.

The museum is an exposition of memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, curiosities, and general day-to-day objects from the lives of the many inhabitants of Thorntown and the surrounding area. Included in these inhabitants were Native Americans, pioneers, soldiers, farmers, merchants, homemakers, teachers and inventors — a broad spectrum of people that worked hard to develop this part of our state. Please enjoy with us the fine memories they have left behind.