06/01/2026
🌟 BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – JOSHUA CARLTON 🌟
The Dearborn County Historical Society is proud to spotlight board member Joshua Carlton and recognize the passion, leadership, and countless hours he dedicates toward preserving and growing Dearborn County history.
Joshua has become heavily involved in alot of different aspects of the Historical Society’s operations and public outreach. From organizing community events and marketing campaigns to creating partnerships throughout the county, his goal has always been simple — finding new and innovative ways to bring history back into the spotlight for the public to enjoy.
Joshua plays a major role in the planning and organization of many Historical Society events, including the continued growth of Light Up Newtown Park and the expansion into “Light Up the Parks.” Through partnerships with local cities, businesses, churches, volunteers, and community groups, he has helped create events that bring thousands of people together while also raising awareness and support for local history.
He has worked tirelessly on promotional efforts for the Society through social media campaigns, public engagement, historical storytelling, photography projects, event coordination, fundraising ideas, sponsorship outreach, and marketing initiatives that have dramatically increased public interaction with the organization. His focus has been reaching people where they are today while making history exciting and accessible to younger generations.
Joshua strongly believes the Historical Society should become a self-sufficient organization that serves every community within Dearborn County equally. Since the Society houses and preserves historical artifacts, documents, and stories from all areas of the county, his vision includes seeing each city and town contribute support toward preserving the shared history that belongs to everyone.
He also believes the Historical Society should receive stronger county support and funding — much like local libraries — because in many ways the Society serves as a living library of physical historical artifacts, photographs, records, and priceless pieces of our past. With additional support and resources, Joshua envisions the Society operating six days a week with normal business hours and remaining open year-round for the public to enjoy.
One of Joshua’s most exciting long-term ideas is transforming the historic Angevine Cabin into a fully functioning AirBnB experience. Rather than only being utilized one day each year, the cabin could generate residual income for the Society while giving visitors a unique opportunity to experience Dearborn County history firsthand.
Joshua also hopes to strengthen relationships with county schools, teachers, and students by expanding educational opportunities and field trips throughout the Society’s campus. He believes reaching younger generations is one of the most important ways to keep local history alive for decades to come.
He has also been heavily involved in promoting America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations throughout Dearborn County while helping develop historical exhibits, public open houses, preservation awareness projects, and educational programming centered around local and national history.
Looking toward the future of the historic Vance-Tousey House, Joshua would love to see the home restored and staged more closely to how it would have originally appeared when lived in historically. However, he recognizes one of the biggest challenges facing the Society today is storage. With thousands of historical artifacts and aging documents needing preservation, Joshua hopes to eventually see a climate-controlled storage facility constructed to properly protect Dearborn County’s history for future generations.
Joshua also believes the current Board of Directors he serves alongside is what he considers “the A-Team.” He believes the success, growth, and momentum the Historical Society is currently experiencing would not be possible without every board member working together in tandem. From events and preservation projects to fundraising and community outreach, Joshua credits the teamwork, dedication, and passion of the entire board for helping achieve the incredible things happening throughout the organization today.
Joshua’s vision is centered around growth, sustainability, preservation, education, and community involvement. Whether helping organize events, promoting local history online, coordinating projects behind the scenes, or brainstorming future ideas for the Society, his dedication continues helping move the Dearborn County Historical Society toward a stronger future.
Thank you, Joshua, for your passion and commitment to preserving the history of Dearborn County for generations to come! ❤️
