DISCOVER
OUR CONNECTED PAST
The Crossroads Discovery Center brings storytelling and genealogy together. Since 1973, we have connected the people of Hamilton County to their community and their personal histories. Now it’s your turn.
Cornerstone Exhibits
DISCOVER
YOUR STORY
Get hands-on with history in an interactive exhibit space focused on the how-to of genealogy research. Delve into what makes genealogy and local history research fun! Experiences include:
Explore Historic Records
Connect a history puzzle through documents, as you explore historic records. Learn how one type of record connects to another and another to tell the story of a person or a place.
Community Oral History Booth
Hamilton County Timeline
Explore an interactive timeline of Hamilton County history. View maps, historic photos, and other media and see how local history relates to state and national history.
Database Quick Access
Find databases at your fingertips to get a quick start on your research journey. Start telling your story!
Equipment & Technology To Explore
The Crossroads Discover Center has the tools you need to discover and tell your story. Access our digital media labs and print lab to find all you’ll need to preserve your family history for future generations.
Audio Recording Lab
(reservation available)
Lab Equipment
- HP Computer
- Microphones
- Headphones
- USB Audio Box (2 Input)
- Mic Stands
- XLR Cables
- Pop Filters
- Recording Software:
- Adobe Audition (and full Adobe Creative Suite)
- Audacity
Media Conversion Lab
(reservation available)
Lab Equipment
- HP Computer
- 8mm and Super 8 Digital Convertor
- VCR and Video Capture Cable
- Cassette Digitizer
- Floppy Disk Reader
- CD/DVD External Drive
- Flat bed scanner
Image Digitization Lab
(reservation available)
Lab Equipment
- HP Computer
- Epson FastFoto Scanner
- ScanSnap Scanner SV600
- Vivid Pix Memory Station Software
- Vivid Pix Education Courses
- Recording Equipment:
- Microphone
- Headphones
- USB Audio Box (2 Input)
- Mic Stand
- XLR Cable
- Pop Filter
Additional Equipment
(first-come, first-served)
See Equipment
- Book Binding Machine
- All-in-One Film and Slide Scanner
- Overhead Scanner
- BookEye Scanner
- Large Format Printer
- Copier/Printer
- Microfilm Machines
- Laptop Computers
- Portable Scanner (available for 7-day checkout)
- External Hard Drives (available for 7-day checkout)
Printing Costs
Crossroads Discovery Center users pay for the cost of the materials they use. Patrons are also welcome to bring in pre-approved materials.
Large Format Printing
$4 per foot for 24″ wide paper
$6 per foot for 42″ wide paper
Chipboard
$0.20 for 8 ½ x 11″
Wire Binding for Cinch Machine
$0.20 for 3/8″ coil
$0.25 for 9/16″ coil
$0.50 for ¾” coil
$1.35 for 1″ coil
Programs, Events & Classes
DISCOVER
Interactive Programs
Join a class or workshop to dig deeper into genealogy and local history. Wherever you are in your story, library staff are ready to help.
Workshops with genealogy experts
Discussions with local historians
Family learning opportunities
School Field Trips
Online Resources
When the Crossroads Discovery Center is closed for the day or while you’re researching at home, you can still access many of our resources in our online resource center.
Databases & Websites
The library subscribes to several genealogy databases available here: American Ancestors, Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, Archives Unbound, and Heritage Quest Online. Access local genealogy databases at the links below:
- Hamilton County, Indiana, Cemetery Database – An index of burials with some links to FindaGrave
- Hamilton County, Indiana, Newspaper Database – An index of obituaries and some other articles about residents – full articles available on Newspapers.com
- Newspapers
- Hamilton County Collection, Newspaper.com – 1837-2008 available in-library only, up to 1960 available at home with library card.
- Hamilton County Newspaper holdings at the Indiana State Library
- Noblesville High School Yearbooks (1909-1994, 2000-2001, 2003) – available in the “U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016″ Collection on Ancestry
- Roberts Settlement
- Available in the Crossroads Discovery Center:
- Index of Surname Vertical Files
- Index of Hamilton County Vertical Files
Genealogy Websites
- Bureau of Land Management – Land records
- Chronicling America newspapers – Library of Congress free, nation-wide newspapers
- Familysearch.org – Free alternative to Ancestry
- Findagrave.com – Volunteer-edited database of cemeteries and burials worldwide
- Hoosier State Chronicles – Indiana-specific free digitized newspapers
- Indiana Genealogical Society
- Indiana Historical Society – State-wide resources and digital collections
- Indiana State Library Genealogy Collection – State-wide resources and digital collections
Hamilton County Digitized Photos and Resources
- Hamilton East Public Library Collection at Indiana Memory
- 1923 Hamilton County Centennial Celebration – Photos of the parade and celebration in Noblesville
- Adolph F. Mueller World War I Collection – Diaries and scrapbooks related to this Noblesville local’s service
- Forest Park Historical Records – Photos and records related to this Noblesville city park
- Joe Roberts Collection – several categories of photos related to Noblesville in the 19th century
- Noblesville Mayor Docket Books (1887-1950) – Court Case Records for the City
- 1987 Noblesville City Hall Construction Album
- Irving Heath Collection – 1950s-1970s photos of Noblesville and significant events
- Hamilton County Slide Collection, 1985 – color photographs of significant buildings and farms around the county
- The Hamilton County History collection at IUPUI – includes the following collections, available to keyword search:
- Township School Photos, 1901-1902
- Hamilton County Teacher and School Directories (1898-1930, various years, and 1958,1963)
- Hamilton County in 1900: Through a Young Person’s Lens – photography from Earl Brooks
- Evans-Godby-Trout Funeral Home Collection on Ancestry– Books 1-5 covering (1924-1950) of local Noblesville funeral home records. This collection is titled: Hamilton County, Indiana, U.S., Compiled Records From Hamilton East Public Library, 1891-1962
- Digitized Hamilton County History Books
Hamilton County Directories & Maps
- Library of Congress Sanborn Maps – Fire insurance maps of Noblesville and Sheridan
- Hamilton County Maps and Aerial Photos – Hamilton County Surveyor’s office
- 1874 Hamilton County directory
- 1876 People’s Guide: Directory of Hamilton County
- 1893-1894 Hamilton County Directory
- 1896 Business Directory of Noblesville
- 1902 Business and Personal Directory of Central Indiana
- 1907 Inter-state Noblesville Directory – Available at HEPL’s IUPUI Collection
- 1907 Hamilton County Pocket Business Directory
- 1916 Noblesville Phone Directory
- 1920 Noblesville Directory Vol. 2 – available at HEPL’s IUPUI collection
- 1922 Atlas and Plat Book of Hamilton County, Indiana
- 1926 Noblesville Directory
- 1929 Noblesville Directory
Archival Collections in the Crossroads Discovery Center
The collections listed here are stored in our archives. If you would like to see any of the listed collections in person or have a research inquiry, contact us to make an appointment. Check back frequently, as new collections are added all the time!
- Stewart Title Abstract Index
- Indiana Transportation Museum Collection
- Richwine Apartment Building Collection
- Brehm Brothers Art Collection Catalog
- Hamilton County League of Women Voters
Physical Resources Available
Browse the catalog, including the collection of genealogy and local history books here.
Requests & Consultations
- In person – No Appointment Required
- Genealogy Consultation Appointments
- By phone at 317-770-3236
- By email to [email protected]
- By U. S. mail at:
Hamilton East Public Library
One Library Plaza
Noblesville, IN 46060
We are happy to help if you have any questions.
See the Space
200 Years
In The Making
Did you know the Crossroads Discovery Center is home to a repository of historic material? Our archives contain artifacts dating back to the 1850s and Hamilton County’s early days. Our space includes climate controls and archival quality containment to preserve these materials for centuries to come.
The library’s vision for connecting people to their community and its history in such an accessible way is especially important for a county like this one, which has attracted so many new residents over the past decade. This new learning opportunity will not only be compelling for residents but also interesting to visitors.
Brenda Meyers, President/CEO of Hamilton County Tourism
-
1973
Indiana Room Opens
The “Indiana Room” debuted to the public in 1973 during an open house for the newly remodeled library. Most noticeable were the iron bars and gate at the entrance to the room, which were installed to set apart the special collection.
-
1986
Move to Cumberland Road
When the library moved into a new building on Cumberland Road in 1986, the room took its place on the second floor of the new building. The gate and the iron bars were gone, but the collection remained and continued to flourish.
-
1990
Collection Expands
Throughout the years, the Indiana Room collections have expanded significantly. In the mid-80s to late-90s, Indiana Room staff worked diligently to add vertical files, a photograph collection, archival storage, obituary indexes from local newspapers, database and magazine subscriptions, a circulating collection, microfilm machines, plat maps and more.
-
2003
Library Name Change
The library experienced big changes with new construction and a new name. The Noblesville Southeastern Public Library became the Hamilton East Public Library as it expanded to serve four of the nine townships in the county. And the “Indiana Room” expanded its footprint to include a larger portion of the second floor during this renovation.
-
2023
Indiana Room Changes Name
The “Indiana Room” changes its name to the Crossroads Discovery Center, and construction breaks ground on yet another expansion of this library resource as we continue to improve access and expand possibilities.
-
2024
Outstanding Collaborative Project Award
The Crossroads Discovery Center was given the Outstanding Collaborative Project Award by the Indiana Historical Society.
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Highlights In History
Going Viral in 1837
By David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian A version of this article first appeared in the June/July 2019 issue of the Hamilton County Business Magazine It’s unpredictable what will catch the public’s attention and make a person famous (or infamous) on the internet....
Hidden Histories of Hamilton County, Indiana: A Crossroads Discovery Center Activity Book
The Crossroads Discovery Center brings storytelling and genealogy together. Since 1973, we have connected the people of Hamilton County, IN to their community and their personal histories. Our new coloring and activity book features six historical figures from...
What’s in the Archive? Highlighting the Crossroads Discovery Center Archive Collections
By Jessica L., Genealogy and Local History Librarian Traditional museums often have very large collections of materials that they can’t display all at once. The Louvre, one of the most famous museums in the world, is also one of the largest. They display a little...
Rolling Through Noblesville: The 1907 Glidden Auto Tour
By David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian Over a century ago, Noblesville had an opportunity to witness cutting edge automotive technology when the Glidden Tour came through town. Officially named the Fourth Annual American Automobile Association Tour, this was a...
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