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
Discover your story from anywhere. The Crossroads Discovery Center’s online resources give you instant access to premium genealogy tools, historic newspapers, cemetery records, yearbooks, maps, and more — all curated to help you explore your family history and Hamilton County’s past. Start uncovering the people, places, and moments that shaped our community and your story.
We are happy to help if you have any questions. Contact us here.
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
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.
Sign up for updates
Be the first to know when new things are coming to the Crossroads Discovery Center.
Highlights In History
This Little Piggy Went to Market
By David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian Transportation of goods to market is a crucial link in any business. Today, the price of fuel has a huge impact on the price of groceries in the supermarket. However, the process now is still much simpler than it was 175...
How a 100-Year-Old Trial Impacts Today
By Jessica L., Local History and Genealogy Librarian Back in February, I wrote a blog that outlined a list of resources for learning about the Ku Klux Klan and their impact on Indiana and the Midwest in the early 20th century. We’re revisiting it now because of an...
The Treaty of St. Mary’s: Native American Heritage Month and Hamilton County
By David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian In the past, people have said that William Conner was the first settler of Hamilton County because he established a trading post here in 1802. However, while he had a license to trade with the Native Americans, the fact is...
The Missing Bridegroom – Clickbait, circa 1911
By David Heighway, Hamilton County Historian A version of this article originally appeared in the Aug.-Sept. 2015 issue of the Hamilton County Business Magazine. I recently wrote about Isaac Cachell, a story that went viral in the 1830s. Another example of a historic...
Questions?
Ask a librarian about the Crossroads Discovery Center.
"*" indicates required fields