Museum Wishlist

 

The museum is currently in need of these    items:

  • Archival Textile Boxes available HERE
  • Archival Paper Boxes available HERE
  • Archival Boxes available HERE
  • Archival paper (legal) available HERE
  • Archival Tissue Paper availableHERE
  • Poly Album Pages available HERE or HERE or HERE
  • Nitrile gloves available HERE
  • Any general cleaning supplies or paper products
  • Silica gel packets or canisters
  • Swiffer or any brand of non-scented dry sheets







Giving

Financial Donation


The Douglas County Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that runs on the donations of individuals and businesses.  Please consider making a donation to the museum so that we may continue to serve the people of and visitors to Douglas County for current and future generations.​  All donations are tax-deductible.​  To make a financial donation, click on the "Donate Here" heart above!   You can also shop on Amazon and support the museum at the same time!  Just click on the Amazon Smile box above.​


Membership


Membership is a great way to help the Museum with a small yearly fee.  A membership to the Museum gets you discounts on events, programs, and rentals.  You will also get a monthly newsletter and other important announcements by email or post office mail.  Most importantly, you are supporting a local non-profit and the care of important artifacts so they are around for generations to come!


You may also pay your membership dues through the "donate here" heart button to the right.  Just click on the donate button!


Download a  Membership Form!



Donate ARTIFACTS


Do you have an item that fits the Museum's mission statement that you feel would be of value to have in our collection?  Please call or stop in and see us at the Museum.


There is a form for you to fill out giving us temporary custody of your item after which the item will go before our Collection's Committee and our Board of Trustees.  If we feel it fits our mission and we are able to properly store and care for the item, we will have you fill out a Deed of Gift. Please make sure you have the time to fill out paperwork.

 

*Note:  Due to space and coverage, we are not accepting any World War II dress uniforms at this time into the collection.



Volunteers + Internships


Do you have an interest in historical research, collections management, educational programming, or something else?  There are many different volunteer and internship job openings at the museum.  We are very flexible as to when and how often you can come in.  If you can donate your time for events only, maybe once a month, or can come every week, we will work with you to find the right job.  


We currently could use someone with carpentry skills for making basic slotted storage shelving!


Stop in and see our Director, Anna, or feel free to get in touch with us using the Contact Form. We look forward to hearing from you!



Giving


There are many ways that you can help the museum provide for the people of and visitors to Douglas County.  Whether you make a financial contribution, volunteer your time, become a member, attend an event, submit a pledge, serve on a committee, or just come on in and see us, you are helping the museum succeed and continue to grow for future generations to be able to enjoy.  



Here are some ways that you can help:

Awarded Grants & Donations $500.00 and above from Organizations and Businesses

2015-2023

Please note that this does NOT include donations for our new town project.  We will post these once the project is complete!


Thank you to these organizations for your generosity toward the museum!


  • City of Tuscola TIF Committee: $50,000.00 for Building Repairs​
  • Tuscola Community Foundation:$10,000.00 toward keeping a Full-time Director; $1,000.00 toward the mural project​
  • Illinois Department of Commerce: $5,000 B2B Grant in 2023
  • LyondellBasell: $1,500.00 toward painting the building and a new sign and most recently, $500.00 toward a new PA/projector system, $500.00 toward new energy-efficient lighting; $400.00 toward the mural project
  • First Neighbor Bank: $1,000.00 to purchase bank vault door
  • Arcola Foundation: $750.00 for Archival Supplies & Collections care ; $1000.00 for digitization equipment 2017 and $1000.00 for 2018​
  • Daughters of the American Revolution: $1,351.14 Matching grant toward ​a Veteran's Hall of Honor Thank you to our local DAR, the Stephen A. Douglas Chapter, for the support you expressed toward the museum and this project
  • Tuscola Tourism: Tourism has helped the museum print brochures, pay for entertainment and help with events throughout the years, most recently $1,000.00 for Tuscola history research and payback for the cost of brochure printing in 2023
  • Tuscola Rotary: $500.00 for new exhibit technology
  • Villa Grove Rotary: $500.00 toward photo contest & project
  • Harvest Ridge Wind Farm:$500.00 toward collections care for Buick
  • I.U.O.E. Local 841: $500.00 toward collections care for Buick




We have merchandise for sale at the museum!  Stop in and purchase items in our lobby!  Postcards, bags, mugs, tour booklets and more.  


Merchandise



























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County

Douglas

Town of Richman Exhibit Donors

Exhibit space opened in June of 2024


Thank you for making our new exhibit space possible!


Town of Richman Donors
Founding Fathers $1000 Donation
Sherry Bartholow
Chris & Melanie Hill
Ken & Judy Wright Landeck to honor Douglas County History
Kathryn McCumber Family
Stan Ochs in memory of Don Ochs
Jerry & Sue Rairden Stout, Arcola
Jim & Ann Wright in honor of Judy Landeck
 
Settlers $500 Donation
Linda Brewer Family
Larry & Carol Bushu
The Curtis Family, Salida, CO. Descendants of Vern & Sally Wright
Thomas G. Wold & Dr. Sally J. Foote in memory of John Foote
Chuck & Carol Knox
Frank W. & Marlene B. Lincoln
Katherine Peterson for my Aunt Judy
Dr. Larry & Carolin Tschopp in memory of Violet Kemble Tschopp
Curt & Phyllis Turner
Moose Lodge est. 1918 supports Moose mission & our community
In celebration of Vern & Sally Wright and the 4 J’s – M, M, L, C
 
Pioneers $250 Donation
David & Janet Butler
Cabot Corporation
Tuscola First Bank
Stephen W. & Elizabeth L. Fox
Phillip Jones, D. D. S.
Kim & Marylee McGee Family
Bradly & Angela Miller
The Pm & Dean Sigler Family
Stephen A. Douglas Chapter, NSDAR
Villa Grove Rotary
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