The Butler County Historical Society hopes residents will hit the road Saturday and maybe come across some little-known local history.

The society is sponsoring its second annual Butler County History Day when 12 historical sites will all be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It's the second year it's been done,” said Pat Collins, administrative director of the society. “It's trying to get awareness of all the small historical societies. A lot of people don't realize what we have here.”

For travelers, with all the museums, sites and societies open at the same time on the same day, said Collins, “The idea is that they will hit several, that they see what's out there, so they get a taste.”

For A.D. Kelly of the Mars History and Landmark Society and the Valencia Historical Society, the day will give the societies a chance to host some special events.

He said the caboose and railroad station that are the home of the Mars society at 1 Brickyard Road will have a miniature train ride chugging around the site to give rides to young visitors.

“We'll be showing a new railroad system that you can sit on and ride around on,” said Kelly.

He added the society might be able to put a working pump car, a small railroad car powered by pushing up and down on handles, out for display.

In addition, he said, classic movies will be shown on an old movie projector in the metal building that houses drilling equipment, an old windmill and other historical items.

Kelly said the Valencia society, housed in the basement of the borough building at 61 Almira St., will have a display of hand-held farming implements, as well as a display of historical photos.

“This year, everybody's doing Saturday,” Kelly said. “But we (Valencia) are also going to be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. We're right in the borough, we're surrounded by churches and retirement homes. We've got to be open to them.”

Kathy Luek, administrator of the Harmony Museum, said this will be the first year the museum at 218 Mercer St., takes part in the countywide event because of a scheduling conflict last year.

“We are hoping for more than normal number of visitors on a Saturday,” said Luek. “There will be people demonstrating weaving, we will have Charles Flowers' long rifles on display, he made rifles in Harmony from the 1850s to the 1890s.”

She said there also will be exhibits highlighting the Harmony Society, the communal, celibate society that started its first commune in this country, known as Harmonie or Harmony, where the society existed from 1804 to 1815.

“We will have guided tours of the museum every hour beginning at 10 a.m.,” she said.

Collins said that the county historical society also will have the Cooper cabin Pioneer Homestead, 195 Cooper Road, Cabot, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The cabin's furnishings illustrate the 19th century pioneer lifestyle.