The Warren County Historical Society's Wilder Museum will open today at 1 p.m. and be open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday this summer. Photo submitted to the Times Observer

Summer travel might remain up in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But that provides an opportunity to look for things to do that are close.

And one of those options is the Warren County Historical Society’s Wilder Museum which is set up open on today.

Located at the former Irvine School at 51 Erie Ave., the museum is open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Museum includes over 4,000 artifacts in 17 distinct exhibit rooms.

“As guests enter the former Irvine School building, they will be met with the new Map Exhibit Room that boasts a large mural of Warren County by local artist Joanne Oviatt, antique surveying equipment, an authentic buffalo hide, and vintage maps, showing the early stages of Warren County as we know it,” Executive Director Michelle Gray said.

Part of the Warren County Historical Society's collection on display at the Wilder Museum is this desk from the Irvine railroad depot. Photo submitted to the Times Observer

The topic list varies from the Seneca Nation to military, railroad and lumber history to the Irvine-Newbold estate, CCC, oil and National Forge.

According to the Historical Society, some of the highlights in the collection include the funeral flag of Warren County’s last surviving Civil War soldier, a World War II Wall of Honor, National Forge machinery, a 1963 Mercedes Benz, a 37 mm anti-tank gun, the Joseph DeFrees antique gun collection, an authentic 1800s covered wagon on loan by John & Pam Pape, the gun used by Norman Moon in the murder of Judge Wade, Henry Rouse’s boots, the desk from the Irvine Railroad Depot and a Civilian Conservation Camp #1 bunk bed on loan by Robert A. Summers.

“The gift shop has also been expanded, making it the perfect stop for unique items,” Gray said.

Admission is $5 per person and $1 for students while Historical Society members are admitted for free.

“Guests are requested to follow current health guidelines by wearing masks and practicing social distancing,” Gray explained.

For more information, call the Society at 723-1795, visit warrenhistory.org or lookup the Wilder Museum of Warren County History on Facebook.