History Starts With You…
At the St. Charles History Museum, we are the keepers and stewards of our community’s rich history. Our archive contains artifacts and photos that document the more than 185 years of St. Charles history. By collecting and presenting these artifacts, we aim to preserve the story of St. Charles for generations to come. However, we can’t do it alone. Nearly 75% of the Museum’s annual budget is paid for through donations, which allows us to excel in our mission of collecting and preserving our community’s story. Want a reason to support the Museum? Here are 10 things that your donation goes towards…
1 - A sense of community
The St. Charles History Museum is a cornerstone of the community, serving as a gathering place that tells the collective story of our beautiful city. Our Museum educates residents and visitors alike, offering a glimpse into the lives, hopes, dreams, and aspirations of everyone who has come before us and to foster a sense of pride and inspiration for future generations.
2 – Documenting our story
The Museum staff continually accepts donations of items from the community that help us tell our collective story. Each piece of history that enters our doors and is added to our collection serves as another small piece in the 185-year mosaic that makes up the St. Charles story.
3 – Pride for St. Charles
Although St. Charles has always been divided by a river, there is one thing that unites us: love for our community. St. Charles is one of the most unique cities in our state and the entire Midwest, offering countless opportunities for entertainment, recreation, and more in a beautiful setting. History and modernity come together seamlessly in St. Charles, offering a unique environment that truly is “The Pride of the Fox”.
4 – Exciting Events and Programs
The Museum is proud to offer a continual slate of educational events and programs every year. Museums are where history comes alive, and through these programs, we aim to allow people to come face-to-face with their past, and to learn about where we came from, and where we still have left to go.
5 - Engaging Exhibits
In addition to our permanent exhibit, “The Makings of St. Charles” which documents the story of how St. Charles came to be, the Museum also offers at least two temporary exhibits per year that highlight specific stories, people, and places that have played a role in the St. Charles story. In 2019, the Museum held exhibitions on local connections to the Underground Railroad, the Titanic disaster, and about the Boys School of St. Charles.
6 – Training the Next Stewards of History
The Museum is proud to employ a rotating slate of talented interns every year, each of whom do real hands-on work that support our mission, while simultaneously giving them the necessary tools and experience to one day be the keepers and stewards of our collective history.
7 – Culture and Entertainment
The Museum is proud to also be an institution of arts and culture in the community. In the past year, we unveiled our new “Music at the Museum” series, which allows a variety of local musicians of all genres to showcase their skills in a unique and intimate venue. We were also proud to hold the opening reception of the St. Charles ArtsFest this year, which features artists of all mediums during the month of September. At the event, local artist Rita Grendze unveiled the flagship piece of the Fest, “Synapses 4 – Community”, which was installed and on display on the roof of the Museum during the duration of the Fest.
8 – Research and Learning
The Museum holds a massive selection of books, records, maps, and ledgers that document hundreds of years of St. Charles history. We are proud to be the keepers of these important documents, which are key to allowing local residents to learn more about the history of their home for historical research and about their ancestors for genealogical research. Our dedicated volunteer research team carefully analyzes these records to assist visitors in finding this important information.
9 – Preserving the Past
The St. Charles History Museum currently holds over 10,000 items and 15,000 photos in its archives and collection. We are currently in the process of cataloging and reorganizing each of these items to ensure that he St. Charles story remains accessible well into the future for generations to come. This process is long and involved, but with your help, we can move forward with confidence as we write the next chapter of St. Charles history together.
10 – Educating the Future
The key to preserving our past lies with educating the next generations. We are proud to offer historical education programs for local students of all ages, which introduces students to our local history, and aims to foster a sense of pride and curiosity in the contributions that St. Charles has made to state and national history.
Learn more and donate at the link below
