St. Charles History Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1933 |
|---|---|
| Location | 215 East Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois, USA |
The St. Charles History Museum is a special place in St. Charles, Illinois, USA. It's where you can learn all about the history of the town! The museum is located at 215 East Main Street.
Contents
What is the St. Charles History Museum?
The St. Charles History Museum helps people discover the past of St. Charles. It started from a group called the St. Charles Historical Society, which was created in 1933. This society wanted to save and share the town's history.
Who Started the Museum?
A person named Col. E. J. Baker was very important in starting the museum. He set up a special area for the museum inside the St. Charles Municipal Building. This museum space first opened its doors in 1940.
A Special Gift to the City
Col. Baker was very generous. He gave the Municipal Building to the city of St. Charles. But he had one important condition: the city had to promise to always keep a space for a history museum there. This shows how much he cared about preserving the town's story.
Where is the Museum Now?
The museum stayed in the St. Charles Municipal Building for many years, until 2001. Then, it moved to a new home! Its current location is a building that used to be the McCornack Oil Company. This building was built in 1928. After some updates and changes, the museum officially opened in its new spot in May 2001.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The St. Charles History Museum has a huge collection of items! It holds more than 10,000 photographs. These pictures show what life was like in St. Charles long ago. The museum also has over 15,000 artifacts. Artifacts are old objects that tell us about the past. Most of these items focus on the history of the local area, helping visitors understand how St. Charles grew and changed over time.
