Cole County Historical Society & Museum

The Cole County Historical Society was formed on July 24, 1941. The dedication of the original society members and those who quickly joined made it possible to purchase the original museum building in 1946, and to complete the necessary renovation prior to the official opening at a reception on May 17, 1948.

The society is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the museum and the Upschulte House. Funds for these purposes have been and are, derived solely from membership contributions, fund raising projects, admission fees, and individual donations. The museum and library are staffed entirely by volunteers—there are no paid employees. All funds available are used without private benefit to any individual or group. For growth of and additions to its historical collections, the society depends upon individual and corporate gifts and bequests.

Featured Articles

How the Cherry Blossoms Came to Washington

by Edwin S. Grosvenor

Rarely has the full story been told how a famed botanist, a pioneering female journalist, and First Lady Helen Taft battled reluctant bureaucrats to bring Japanese cherry trees to Washington.

Reconsidering Jimmy Carter

by Kai Bird

Often thought to have been a weak president, Carter was strong-willed in doing what he thought was right, regardless of expediency or the political fallout.

Bank Failures: As American as Apple Pie

by John Steele Gordon

Why have thousands of U.S. banks failed over the years? The answers are in our history and politics.

“With Malice Toward None”

by Jon Meacham

In his Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln embodied leading in a time of polarization, political disagreement, and differing understandings of reality.

The Indian World of George Washington

by Colin G. Calloway

Native American peoples and the lands they possessed loomed large for Washington, from his first trips westward as a surveyor to his years as President.

“These Are No Ordinary Times”

by Adam Hochschild

A hundred years ago, America was rocked by riots, repression, and racial violence.

Yellow Fever Stalks the Founders

by Stephen Fried

During Pres. Washington’s first term, an epidemic killed one tenth of all the inhabitants of Philadelphia, then the capital of the young United States.

Upon Starved Rock

by Mark Walczynski

Now a popular state park, the unassuming geological feature along the Illinois River has served as the site of centuries of human habitation and discovery.

Revenge of the Nevada

by Ed Offley

The recent discovery of the hull of the battleship Nevada recalls her dramatic action at Pearl Harbor and ultimate revenge on D-Day as the first ship to fire on the Nazis.

Confederates in Congress: Heritage or Hate?

by Edwin S. Grosvenor

Our research reveals that 19 artworks in the U.S. Capitol honor men who were Confederate officers or officials. What many of them said, and did, is truly despicable.

A Special Issue on Presidential Misdeeds

by Edwin S. Grosvenor

Here is probably the most wide-ranging look at Presidential misbehavior ever published in a magazine.

Marshall's Secret Preparations for War

by Paul Dickson

When Germany unleashed its blitzkreig in 1939, the U.S. Army was only the 17th largest in the world. FDR and Marshall had to build a fighting force able to take on the Nazis, against the wishes of many in Congress.

	Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial Washington, District Of Columbia	Located in Lady Bird Johnson Park on Columbia Island, the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial
	Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Key West, Florida	Named after 12th president Zachary Taylor, the U. S.
	Wright’s Chance/Queen Anne’s County Historical Society Centreville, Maryland	Dating back to the 1700s, Wright's Chance is a Colonial period plantation house.
	The Powder Magazine Charleston, South Carolina	Construction began on The Powder Magazine in 1712 and was completed by 1713, making it
	Del Webb Sun Cities Museum Sun City, Arizona	The Sun Cities Area Historical Society/Del Webb Sun Cities Museum is dedicated to the p
	Steamship Historical Society of America East Providence, Rhode Island	THE STEAMSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA was established in 1935 as a means of bring
	Tryon Palace New Bern, North Carolina	Tryon Palace is a modern recreation of the original palace, which served as the royal g
	Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens Columbia, South Carolina	One of Columbia's oldest remaining historic houses, the Hampton-Preston Mansion was hom
	Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, Massachusetts	Old Sturbridge Village is the largest living history museum in New England, spanning o
	Dublin Heritage Center Dublin, California	By viewing the Old St.
	Touro Synagogue National Historic Site Newport, Rhode Island	The Touro Synagogue was dedicated in
	Dominican Sisters Of St. Cecilia Nashville, Tennessee	In her history of St.
	Fort Barrancas Pensacola, Florida	The Fort Barrancas Area is on Taylor Road approximately a half mile east from the Museu
	Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Harpers Ferry, West Virginia	Stroll the site of John Brown's historic 1859 abolitionist raid, complete with museums
	El Morro (fort San Felipe Del Morro) San Juan, Puerto Rico	Officially known as Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, this fort sits atop a high promontory
	Fort Davis Fort Davis, Texas	From 1854 until 1891, troops stationed at the post protected emigrants, freighters, mai
	Mount Independence Orwell, Vermont	During that historic summer, 12,000 soldiers built a massive fort
	Stones River National Battlefield Murfreesboro, Tennessee	The landscapes of Stones River National Battlefield have shaped and been shaped by the
	Kings Mountain National Military Park Blacksburg, South Carolina	By exploring the Visitor Center, which includes a 26 minute film, exhibit area and 1.5
	Cove Fort Between Fillmore and Beaver, Utah	The construction of the fort was over-seen by Ira Hinckley.
	Fort Stanton Roswell, New Mexico	Fort Stanton was established on May 4, 1855 to protect Hispanic settlements along the R
	Fort Mackinac Mackinac Island, Michigan	Fort Mackinac was a major military outpost during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812
	Jenkins Plantation Museum Lesage, West Virginia	Jenkins Plantation has survived wars, floods, wind and weather.
	Tuckahoe Plantation Richmond, Virginia	A home to the Randolph family and working farm for nearly 300 years, this plantation wa
	Governor Ross Mansion And Plantation Seaford, Delaware	This home belonged to William Henry Harrison Ross, who was the Governor of Delaware fro
	House In The Horseshoe Sanford, North Carolina	During the American Revolution, groups of citizen-soldiers called Whigs or revolutionis
	Mount Calvert Historical And Archaeological Park Upper Marlboro, Maryland	Mount Calvert's rich archaeological and historical resources represent over 8,000 years
	Mansker's Fort Goodlettsville, Tennessee	Mansker's Fort is an authentic reconstruction of a 1779 frontier forted station typical
	West Tennessee Agricultural Museum Milan, Tennessee	Steeped in the rich history of its region, the West Tennessee Agricultural Museum prese
	Apple River Fort Elizabeth, Illinois	The war, which lasted only 16 weeks, ended the threat of Indian attacks in the area and

Cole County Historical Society & Museum

We hope you enjoy our work.

Featured Articles

Location

Hours

Contact

Fees

38.577999, -92.168958

Cole County Historical Society & Museum

Featured Sites

We hope you enjoy our work.

Featured Articles

Location

Hours

Contact

Fees

38.577999, -92.168958