Inspiring historical discovery by preserving and sharing Elgin's heritage.
Become a Member
Upcoming Events
From Brown Bag Lunches to the Annual Cemetery Walk there are exciting events for all interests.
Elgin Research
Explore the Museums collections of photographs, artifacts and articles.
Education Programs
The educational programs are wide and varied both in content and style, and each offers a hands-on component. They are tailored to be developmentally appropriate for groups of all ages and learning styles and designed with state learning standards in mind. Please inquire if your group has specific needs or goals; we are happy to collaborate with you. Some popular programs:
- Bluff City Cemetery Tour
- Watch Works at Elgin National Watch Company
- Old and New: Life in the past to today
- Great Grandma's Kitchen
Adults / Groups
Adult Groups are welcome! Take a guided tour of the Museum or choose a presentation from Speakers Bureau.
Children / Students
School, play, and Scout groups are all welcome! See a full list of programs.
Visit the Museum Store
Books & DVDs
Jewelry
Artwork
For the Home
Permanent Exhibits
Explore Elgin’s rich heritage through two floors of interactive exhibits. You can almost hear the watch ticking at the Elgin National Watch Company, get behind the wheel of an Elgin Road Race car, view products Made in Elgin, and learn about the people and events that have shaped Elgin since 1835.
There are plenty of exhibits for kids to interact with: become a shop keeper at Kretchmer’s grocery store, catch a few fish in the Fox River, and riffle through trunks of early Elgin immigrants. There is even a scavenger hunt to find artifacts through out the Museum.
Blogs & Articles
General Articles
This presentation took place on Sunday, February 20th, 2022. The event was not recorded because of technical difficulty, but gratefully, Phil Broxham of Grindstone Productions was there and he took […]
Crackerbarrel
By David Siegenthaler In 1866-67, William G. Hubbard’s second Elgin home, a large Italianate, was built at 378 Division St. In November 1873 this home was sold to Emeline Borden, […]
Historic House Friday
The snow is gone and the sun is out – it’s a great day for a walk! This week’s house was inspired by the Near West neighborhood and the new […]