From RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUMS
Memorabilia from The Beach Boys and other 1960s headlining local concerts, recording studio artifacts, and more will be featured in a special exhibit that Terra State Community College is organizing at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
“Sounds of Sandusky County,” will showcase relics, records, and recording equipment from the region’s 1960s music scene. The public is invited to a special exhibit opening event at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont. The opening event is free, although RSVPs are requested and can be made to music@terra.edu.
During the event, the public can see the exhibit and take in a local music history presentation by J. Brennan Willis, director of music and technology at Terra State Community College. The presentation will include newly discovered jazz recordings of Toledo jazz legend Cliff Murphy; stories of local music pioneer Bob Brown, whose concert productions helped bring acts like The Beach Boys, The Kingsmen, and The Lettermen to Northwest Ohio; and never-before-seen footage of Fremont in the 1940s.
Following the presentation, guests will get a first look at the “Sounds of Sandusky County” exhibit. Curated by Willis, in collaboration with Terra State’s music program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, the exhibit explores how Sandusky County has played a role in shaping American music.
“This is more than just a historical exhibit,” said Willis. “It’s an immersive story of how music shaped this region, and how it continues to evolve through programs like ours at Terra State.”
Highlights of the exhibit include:
- Memorabilia from concerts featuring The Beach Boys, The Lettermen, and The Kingsmen
- Vintage equipment and artifacts from Sandusky County’s earliest recording studio
- A 1965 performance contract for The Beach Boys, signed by Bob Brown and Carl Wilson, brother of Brian Wilson
- Original vinyl records, reel-to-reel tapes, analog soundboards, and other technological milestones
The exhibit also looks to the future, by spotlighting how Terra State’s music program continues to help train and inspire tomorrow’s musicians, producers, and sound engineers.
“Sounds of Sandusky County” will be open through May 25, 2026. After Sept. 18, access to see the exhibit will be included with regular museum admission.
Terra State faculty, staff, and students who present their Terra State I.D. will receive a discount for a Hayes Presidential Library & Museums site pass, which includes admission to the museum and Hayes home. The discounted rate is $16 for the duration of the special exhibit.
