Browse Museums

L. Haas Store Museum
Carmi, Illinois

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Specialized

The museum contains everything from native american artifacts (on loan from the Rebstock family) to a circa 1918 mail rig to hundreds of tools, photographs, and vintage clothing. One highlight are the hanging tools of Hawthorne township farmer Phil Hanna, "the humane hangman", who ended the life of Southern Illinois' most famous or infamous outlaw, Charlie Birger. Hanna presided over many early 20th century executions. The Haas Store building is a wonderful example of a cast iron storefront, and is located directly across from the Ratcliff Inn. You can tour the museum on line at L.Haas Store Museum. The museum underwent repairs in 2001 and has been organized with church and kitchen areas, communications, homelife, Native American, medical, military, and Carmi sections.

Ratcliff Inn Museum
Carmi, Illinois

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The WCHS was founded in 1957, and established its first museum in Carmi when the Ratcliff Inn was saved from destruction in 1960. Abraham Lincoln stayed in the Inn in 1840, and its original owner served in many county offices from 1818 to 1848.

Matsel Cabin
Carmi, Illinois

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society

The State of Illinois contacted the Society in 1994 about a covered log cabin located along the right of way of Illinois Route 1 and in 1996 the Matsel Cabin was opened to the public. The state provided research and moving services on the structure, located approximately three miles south of Carmi. The society purchased a lot next to the Old Graveyard, which had been deeded to the society by its trustees in 1990, and secured a $20,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to restore the structure.

White County Historical Society
Carmi, Illinois

Cemetery, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Specialized

General membership meetings are held in the spring and fall, with the latter featuring the annual Heritage House Award presentation. The background of this page is the Heritage House Plaque, and I have added a listing of all 32 houses honored since 1971, called heritagehouses.html.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

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