Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center

The Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center is a museum near Berlin, Ohio in Holmes County, Ohio. Holmes County is known for having a large Amish population. The museum tells the history of the Amish, Mennonite, and other Anabaptist people. It has a very large mural called Behalt.

 History   
The center opened in 1981. At that time, it was called the "Mennonite Information Center" and was located in a Dunkard Brethren Church building in Bunker Hill.  

In March 1989, they started building a new museum facility in Berlin, Ohio. The building opened in April 1990 with about US$ 835,000 from donations.  

The mural Behalt was already installed in 1990 but was not yet finished. It was completed and publicly dedicated in October 1992.

In 1993, the artist Heinz Gaugel created a large sgraffito on the outside of the new building. This artwork shows Anabaptist immigrants arriving in the United States.

In 2002, the center changed its name to the “Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center” to better reflect its mission. That same year, they opened a Pioneer Barn exhibition, which shows a Conestoga wagon, Amish buggies, and old farm tools.

In 2004, a one-room schoolhouse built around 1856–1857 was moved to the center and rebuilt there.

 Exhibits   

 Behalt   
The center’s most famous exhibit is the Behalt cyclorama. It is 10 ft high and 265 ft long, painted by Heinz Gaugel. The mural shows the history of Anabaptists, from early times in Switzerland to today.

The name "Behalt" comes from a German word meaning “to keep” or “to remember.”

 Pioneer Barn   
The Pioneer Barn exhibit shows a Conestoga wagon used by early settlers, Amish buggies, and old tools from farm life.

 South Bunker Hill Schoolhouse   
A historic one-room schoolhouse (built around 1856–1857) was moved to the center in 2004. Visitors can see how education was done in old Amish and Mennonite communities.

 Other Features   
 There are displays about Anabaptist traditions: clothing, old Amish hymnals like the Ausbund, historic Bibles, and other items.  
 The center has a bookstore and gift shop with books, videos, and crafts made by Amish and Mennonite people.  
 The Ohio Amish Library is in the same building. Researchers can use it by appointment.  
 The Zollikon Institute is also part of the center. It offers classes about Anabaptist life and history.f

 Significance   
The Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center helps people learn about the beliefs, history, and way of life of Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite communities. The Behalt mural is very special — it tells a long and difficult story in a very visual way.

 See also   
 Ohio Amish Country
 Anabaptism
 Cyclorama

 References 

 External links   
 Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center – Official website  

Category:Museums established in 1981
Category:Museums in Holmes County, Ohio
Category:Mennonite museums
Category:Amish in Ohio
Category:Religious museums in Ohio
Category:1981 establishments in Ohio
Category:History museums in Ohio
Category:Anabaptism