Red School House is the first public school in Butler, built in 1838 due to the Public School Act of 1836. It was used as a classroom until 1874, when a larger facility was built. In different periods, the school building was used as Butler's first public library, the Red Cross center during World War II, offices, and so on.
Since 1966, the Butler County Historical Society has had the School District's permission to use the building as a museum. In 1991, it was closed due to reconstruction. The school district deeded the building to the Society in 1993, and a restoration project began to return it to its original one-room school condition.
The site is now a living history museum recreating the one-room school experience for visitors and classes. Special events, such as a regional spelling bee and a celebration of National Education Week, are held here, often with students in period costumes.
The schoolhouse is located at 200 East Jefferson Street, Butler, directly behind the current Junior High School. The schoolhouse is open for group tours by arrangement only.Related
