Renovate to Innovate
Learning + Experiencing = Connecting
The Museum is transforming from a small history museum to a hub that is responsive to its community’s needs. We’ve developed a hybrid approach where exhibits and programs meld to create that much-desired collective experience, bringing unlikely people together. At the core of this approach is the idea that history repeats itself and that we are not alone in our experiences; others have seen similar challenges and times. All the artifacts in our collection were used by people like us. The wedding dresses, the agricultural equipment, and the radios are where the conversation starts, and a connection is built –a connection to the past and those who are right beside us.
Visits to the Museum are encounters with others, offering new experiences that bring us new insights. It’s an authentic connection. We are asking you to play a part in this innovative approach to running a museum.
Contribute and invest in this innovative transformation.
Here's what we've accomplished so far
Project 1: Replaced ten windows - COMPLETED!
Project 2: Pouring a new concrete floor and adding electrical service
Cost: $155,000 - COMPLETED!
Project 3: Build a new, enhanced Our Front Porch
Cost: $24,000 (Fully funded by a grant)
Timeline: April 2024
Project 4: Add HVAC to the east
Cost: $260,000
Timeline: Early 2025
Watch a short video about the progress on the new floor.
Now is the Time
As we navigate the challenges of our times, the need for connection is essential. The Museum is a place that gathers people together to learn from each other and with each other.
A fully functional building is key to providing a place for collective experiences that give the connection we all desire and need.
A donation is an investment in this innovative approach to running a museum. Help us create a place for “learning + experiencing = connecting.”
How you can help
The cost of the renovation has changed since we first began. We are all continuing to experience the impact the pandemic has had on many of us and the world. We are dedicated to completing these renovations and continue to explore funding options in addition to the over 200 individual contributors to meet the rising costs of equipment, materials, and labor. The most recent estimate is $550,000 and to date, we’ve raised 52% of the cost. Work will be completed by early 2025.
Here’s how you can make a three-year pledge or one-time donation:
Set up an automatic payment with a credit card online.
- Just click on the "Donate" button above.
- Send us a check and make it out to and mail it to Western Illinois Museum at 201 S. Lafayette St, Macomb, IL 61455
- Donate stock
Questions? Give us a call at 309.837.2750.
Here are a few suggested pledge amounts:
| Monthly Gift/ | Annual Gift/ | Total three-year Gift |
| $15 | $180 | $540 |
| $25 | $300 | $900 |
| $40 | $500 | $1,500 |
| $75 | $900 | $2,700 |
| $55 | $2,000 | $6,000 |
| $140 | $5,000 | $15,000 |
What we will be able to do
MORE Exhibits
The new floor plan creates additional exhibit spaces and moves the main gallery to the east side of the building, where the larger artifacts can be displayed. It will feature rotating thematic exhibits from the collection. Three smaller galleries will be curated to reflect the community’s interests, such as:
Gallery 1: The Military Tract and Life on the Prairie
Gallery 2: Our Community and Change
Gallery 3: Agricultural History and Culture
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MORE Programs
- Small group workshops to share traditions like learning how to make Grandma’s pie or how to pickle… anything.
- More live music and other arts programming from both local and regional artists.
- Expanded film screenings and an annual short film festival.
- Hands-on programs for families with weekly drop-in Saturday morning activities.
- Our Front Porch will welcome more authors, historians, and artists for conversations