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About the Museum at Rombach Place
The Clinton County History Center is housed in an 1850s, two-story historic home in Wilmington—also known as Rombach Place Museum. The home was purchased in 1855 by Matthew Rombach (father-in-law of General James W. Denver) and today serves as our headquarters and touring museum.
Visitors will find seasonal and permanent exhibits that highlight artifacts, textiles, and stories that reflect Clinton County’s rich and varied past. Highlights of the collection include:
- Works by Eli Harvey, internationally known Quaker artist (paintings and sculpture)
- Carl Moon photographs
- Artifacts connected to General Denver’s military and political career
- Children’s toys and domestic life materials
- Prehistoric Native American objects and more
Research & Scholarly Access
Researchers may request access to select materials – including portions of our textile and photography collections – by appointment. Because many items are in collections storage, advanced notice is required so staff can prepare requested materials.
Historic Structures Reports for Rombach Place and the Carriage House
In 2024, the Clinton County History Center completed a Historic Structures Reports (HSRs) for Rombach Place and its adjacent Carriage House – two historically significant buildings in Wilmington. This milestone project is a major step forward in preserving, understanding, and interpreting the over 175-year-old house museum that serves as our headquarters.
A Historic Structures Report is a professional preservation document that combines historical research, architectural analysis, and condition assessment. HSRs guide appropriate care, maintenance, and restoration – helping ensure future work respects a building’s historic integrity while addressing current needs.
Developed by preservation professionals over a nine-month period, these reports document the physical fabric, evolution, and historical significance of both buildings.
Just as importantly, the HSRs strengthen interpretation. They shed new light on the lives of the domestic servants who worked for the Rombach, Denver, and Williams families – helping us tell a more inclusive and complete history of the site.
We are proud to make both reports available to the public. View the full reports using the links below.
This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Jeffris Family Foundation and the Clinton County Commissioners.
Help Us Continue Preserving Rombach Place
The Clinton County History Center recently completed another major phase of preservation work at historic Rombach Place, including restoration of the home’s stucco exterior and the installation of 24 historically appropriate wooden shutters.
The $75,000 stucco project restored the home’s historic 1919 exterior. The work was supported by a $50,000 reimbursable award from Ohio’s One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund through the 2024 Capital Budget, administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
The shutter project was originally estimated at $16,900. Once work began, additional deterioration was discovered in the wood where the shutters attach to the home, bringing the final cost to $19,375. Thanks to our members, donors, and community supporters, the entire cost was funded through the History Center’s Annual Giving and Giving Tuesday campaigns.
Together, these projects represent a $94,375 investment in the preservation of Rombach Place.
More Work Lies Ahead
These improvements build upon years of research and planning, including a comprehensive Historic Structures Report completed in 2025. Additional restoration projects are planned for 2027–2028 to address priority needs at Rombach Place and its historic carriage house.
Grant funding is essential, but it rarely covers every expense. Community contributions help meet matching requirements, address unexpected deterioration, and support repairs outside a grant’s approved scope.
Help Preserve Clinton County’s History
You can support future preservation work by:
- Making a gift through our online giving page
- Supporting Annual Giving and Giving Tuesday
- Becoming or renewing as a History Center member
- Following our website, newsletters, and social media for project updates and emerging needs
Every gift and membership helps us protect our historic building, care for the collections housed within it, and preserve Clinton County’s history for future generations.