Help us welcome our new Exhibit/Collection Coordinator, Kira Halvey!
Learn even more on our
Welcome!
Since the mid-1960's, the McHenry County Historical Society has provided the methods and means of presenting McHenry County History to enrich life.
On July 4, 1976 the Society's museum in Union, Illinois was officially opened to the public.
Our comprehensive collection includes several preserved buildings:
The 1847 Gannon Log Cabin
An 1885 town hall, now known as Perkins Hall
A 20th Century modern tourist cabin, restored and housed INSIDE our Museum.
In 1982, a local history research library was added to the museum.
In 1988, we acquired the West Harmony School, an 1895 one-room schoolhouse now used for c.1900 school programs at our Museum location in Union.
In 2009, we acquired the 1898 Riley Methodist Church.
In 2010, we held our Business Diamond Jubilee, saluting McHenry County businesses in operation for 75 + years.
In 2011, we helped create the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest, in cooperation with many fine people across all six Northern Illinois counties.
Besides operating the museum, the Society plaques historic sites and structures, holds adult workshops and classes, makes available traveling exhibits and arranges a wide variety of school and other group programs. Funding for the Society comes from membership dues, admission fees, donations and a trust fund. Your support is always welcomed.
For many years, we have published a comprehensive quarterly newsletter, The Tracer. To receive this valuable resource, join our organization. Visit our Online Gift Shop. Learn more: watch a video about Oral History by the Northwest Herald.
The Museum is open May through October, Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 pm. until 4:00 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., for more information visit The Museum. We very much appreciate your interest and invite you to participate.
eNews Signup
Please sign up here to receive information about our events & activities.
JOIN US TO HELP PRESERVE AND SHARE LOCAL HISTORY!
When you support the McHenry County Historical Society, many benefits become yours.
Did you know that WITHOUT ANY USE OF TAX DOLLARS, we continue to collect and hold in our collection, the three dimensional teaching artifacts of human progress? And, that our museum provides a family-oriented entertainment and educational destination, uniquely and interactively telling the ongoing story of McHenry County and its people?
And, that our research library (free to members) houses thousands of technical books and pamphlets; photographs; post cards; maps; journals; business, club, school and govermental records; local history books; biographical files; scrapbooks; newspapers; phone directories; high school yearbooks and knowledgeable people with answers to all sorts of questions you may ask?
And, that we create learning experiences and events, participating in the
activities of like-minded organizations throughout McHenry County?
And, that our staff and volunteers have collective fun while teaching, learning and experiencing history together?
Visit our Support page for even more details. One key benefit is our history-packed newsletter, The Tracer. Sixteen pages of news, articles, interviews, photographs and more will be mailed to you each quarter. Join us today!
Members of the McHenry County Historical Society are amazing people.
