The Henry County Historical Society was organized in 1963 with the expressed purposes of the Society being: To bring together those people interested in the history of Henry County and to collect and preserve articles of historical value to pass on to future generations. The Society initially used the Bishop Hill Heritage Association’s Steeple Building for the location of its museum. However, in 1984 after considerable work and restoration, the Society opened its permanent museum to the public.
The museum consists of five display rooms that include artifacts from early medical/dental offices, blacksmith and harness shops, military memorabilia, one-room schoolhouses, and much, much more. In addition, the gymnasium displays numerous early farm items such as a windmill, a horse drawn two row cultivator, a restored John Deere horse drawn sickle mower, and a Velle buggy made in Moline, Illinois. The museum is a perfect place to visit for individuals, families, school and church groups, and tour groups. Also available on site are valuable tools for use in genealogy and historic research, including rare books, documents, and records.
The museum is located at the corner of Knox and Park Streets in Bishop Hill, Illinois. It is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily from May 1st to October 31st each year. Special guided tours are also availble by reservation. The museum is staffed by volunteers who are more than ready to assist visitors.
Henry County Historical Society 