History & Culture

The Ancilla Domini Chapel dominates the center wing of the main building of the Motherhouse for the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in the U.S. province. The first Sisters came from Germany in 1868 and settled near Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1918 they purchased property just beyond Donaldson for retreat, rest and recreation. On May 24, 1923, the “Chapel in the Corn Field” was dedicated. The architecture of the Ancilla Domini Chapel expresses a great movement of the human spirit. The neo-Gothic columns of the nave soar up as if reaching toward heaven.

The columns are decorated with the ancient Greek and Roman design, the Corinthian style, used often by the Romans in their adaptations of Greek forms. Frances Xavier Zettler of the Royal Barvarian Institute of Munich, Germany designed the German baroque style of stained glass windows. The altars are made of butternut and golden oak and were made in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and hauled to Donaldson in freight wagons. All the statues are woodcarvings from Germany. On the unique ceiling are featured images of angels supporting symbols of Mary as queen. Louis Van Dinter as his last masterpiece built the large organ.

The pipes were made in Pennsylvania by Gottfried, a firm famous for the art of voicing organ pipes. The organ has 21 ranks in three divisions and 1,291 pipes. The interior was painted for the first time in 1951; the centennial of the order’s beginning in Dernbach, Germany. Master artists from the DaPrado Studio in Chicago used the many shades of gray in the design. The PHJC Ministry Center with its beautiful grounds and prayer garden is located on the shore of Lake Gilbraith. Worship is the purpose of this chapel – to respond to God’s unconditional love through beauty, music, words and actions.

Ecumenical groups frequently enjoy this worship space. It is a place of prayer for people of all faiths. The Ancilla Domini Chapel is open to all that visit the PHJC Ministry Center.

Enjoy a movie and a snack at the Bremen Theatre!

At The Center at Donaldson you can pray, attend college classes, retire to an independent living apartment, receive long term nursing care, learn to care for the earth, buy natural beef, participate in a retreat or conference AND learn to weave or create with clay.

The Trail of Death starts at the Menominee statue south of Plymouth. Chief Menominee and his band of Potawatomi Indians were forced to move from Indiana to Kansas in 1838 and many died. On September 4, 1909 the State of Indiana erected the Chief Menominee Statue in remembrance of the horror the Indians were put through and a memorial to the Potawatomi Indians.

At the Culver Academies Museum and Gift Shop museum guests will get a glimpse of the beginnings of Culver Military Academy through rare artifacts, including original 1860s and 1870s stoves and clocks sold by founder Henry Harrison Culver as the catalyst of what would become one of the premiere private boarding schools in the United States.Fall & Winter Hours of Operation are Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The depot was moved in 2009 and rededicated in 2011, after restoration. The restored B&O Depot has a large waiting room, ticket office, and luggage freight room as they appeared in 1929. On display are railroad memorabilia, railroad tools, and several interpretative displays. Also, featured is a large bird’s eye view drawing of Bremen in 1877. Outside is a 155 foot section of track with a small service car waiting to be unloaded.

Open the first Sunday of the month from May to November – 2-4pm, tours and events may be arranged.

Welcome to Our Newest Location – Marian University’s Ancilla College

Discover challenging academic programs taught by faculty who will help you dig deep and accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

Experience the ever-changing first floor exhibits and visit the tastefully renovated second floor authentic period rooms and exhibits that expand over 3 store-fronts in Downtown Plymouth! Encounter museum displays that transport you back to an era. From vintage clothing, furniture and historic artifacts to modern graphics depicting history with a contemporary edge, at the Marshall County Museum the “old becomes new!”

The exhibits evoke emotion and a thirst for knowledge that leave you with an appreciation for what makes Marshall County, Indiana unique, and why we call it home! Brown Bag Lunch Speakers, Open Houses and Special Events remind visitors that looking back at history helps us learn and move forward! Kid’s Hands-On Areas available and 40-ft. Interactive Model Trains operate every Saturday from 11 AM – 1 PM!

Equipped with a state of the arts Genealogy Research Library, the Marshall County Museum is open Tues-Saturday 10-4 PM. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays and also on County holidays.

Experience the ever-changing first floor exhibits and visit the tastefully renovated second floor authentic period rooms and exhibits that expand over 3 store-fronts in Downtown Plymouth! Encounter museum displays that transport you back to an era. From vintage clothing, furniture and historic artifacts to modern graphics depicting history with a contemporary edge, at the Marshall County Museum the “old becomes new!”

The exhibits evoke emotion and a thirst for knowledge that leave you with an appreciation for what makes Marshall County, Indiana unique, and why we call it home! Brown Bag Lunch Speakers, Open Houses and Special Events remind visitors that looking back at history helps us learn and move forward! Kid’s Hands-On Areas available and 40-ft. Interactive Model Trains operate every Saturday from 11 AM – 1 PM!

Equipped with a state of the arts Genealogy Research Library, the Marshall County Museum is open Tues-Saturday 10-4 PM. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays and also on County holidays.

The Potawatomi Tribe once called this region their home, before they were force west in the 1830’s. This quiet 317 acre preserve along the Tippecanoe River includes the site of a rare post-removal Potawatomi village that existed until the early 1850s. Images depict its past, as well as an 1834 cabin, the oldest structure in Marshall County. Displays in the Interpretive Center give a glimpse of the area’s rich history and nature. Visitors can hike five miles of trails through woodlands and prairie. You may spot turkey, waterfowl and deer along the way, as well as a wide variety of birds.

After its extensive Art Deco renovation, The REES Theatre is now considered the area’s newest performing arts center. The REES is designed in tiers with flexible seating which lends itself to various types of programs. The REES Theatre offers a versatile venue, great for concerts, movies, community theater, receptions, conferences and more.