Stephenson County Historical Society

Stephenson County Historical Society The Stephenson County Museum has been regarded as Freeport's best kept secret, but we have no desire to keep it a secret! Office: Tue-Fri 10-3.

Tours: Thu-Fri 11-3, Sat-Sun 12-4. Large group tours available by appointment.

🍦 We’re here at the Lena Area Historical Museum getting ready for today’s Ice Cream Social!There are so many amazing exh...
08/29/2026

🍦 We’re here at the Lena Area Historical Museum getting ready for today’s Ice Cream Social!

There are so many amazing exhibits to explore while you’re here, including this NEW exhibit dedicated to the Lena Opera House! 🎭

Come enjoy some FREE ice cream, tour the museum, and help support fundraising efforts to restore some of the historic buildings on the museum grounds that were severely damaged by the April tornado. ❤️

🎟️ We’ll also have a 50/50 raffle!
$1 each | 6 for $5 | 15 for $10

🍦 Free Ice Cream
🏛️ Free Museum Tours
❤️ Donations Appreciated

📍 427 Grove St., Lena
⏰ TODAY from 1–3 PM

Come spend part of your Saturday with us and help support the Lena Area Historical Museum! ❤️

Our 72nd Annual Ice Cream Social is almost here!Join us at the Lena Area Historical Museum for free ice cream, free muse...
08/28/2026

Our 72nd Annual Ice Cream Social is almost here!

Join us at the Lena Area Historical Museum for free ice cream, free museum tours, and an afternoon supporting the preservation of local history.

📅 Tomorrow, August 29
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 427 Grove Street, Lena

There is no charge to attend. Donations to the Lena Area Historical Society are greatly appreciated.

We hope to see you in Lena! 🍨❤️

Today’s the last day to RSVP for our Volunteer Orientation!We’ve had so much interest already, and we’re excited to welc...
08/28/2026

Today’s the last day to RSVP for our Volunteer Orientation!

We’ve had so much interest already, and we’re excited to welcome new faces to the museum.

If you’ve been meaning to sign up, there’s still time! Complete the RSVP form today and choose the session that works best for you.

We can’t wait to meet you and share the many ways you can become part of the Stephenson County Historical Society family.

🚧 Good news! We have access to our driveway again!We’ll be OPEN our normal hours this weekend, so come see us, explore t...
08/27/2026

🚧 Good news! We have access to our driveway again!

We’ll be OPEN our normal hours this weekend, so come see us, explore the museum, and maybe take home a little Stephenson County history while you’re here. 🏛️

📚 We also have plenty of Ghost Towns of Stephenson County books in stock!

Museum Hours:
Thursday & Friday | 11 AM–3 PM
Saturday & Sunday | 12–4 PM

📍 1440 S. Carroll Ave., Freeport

Thank you for sticking with us through all of the Carroll Street construction. We’re excited to welcome you back!

We’re only TWO DAYS away from our 72nd Annual Ice Cream Social!This year we’re gathering at the Lena Area Historical Mus...
08/27/2026

We’re only TWO DAYS away from our 72nd Annual Ice Cream Social!

This year we’re gathering at the Lena Area Historical Museum to enjoy a fun afternoon while supporting our fellow historical society.

🍨 Free Ice Cream
🏛️ Free Museum Tours
❤️ Donations Appreciated
📚 Ghost Towns of Stephenson County books available, with all event book profits benefiting the Lena Area Historical Society

Saturday, August 29 | 1:00–3:00 PM

Bring a friend and come explore some local history with

The damage from April’s tornado was severe, but there is still so much happening at the Lena Area Historical Museum. ❤️W...
08/26/2026

The damage from April’s tornado was severe, but there is still so much happening at the Lena Area Historical Museum. ❤️

While their crew continues working to preserve and repair this special piece of local history, they still made time to create something NEW for visitors: an exhibit featuring the Lena Opera House! 🎭

That’s exactly why we want to bring a little extra attention to Lena this Saturday. Come see what they’ve been working on, learn more about Lena’s history, and enjoy some ice cream while you’re there.

🍦 Free ice cream
🏛️ Free museum tours
❤️ Donations appreciated

📅 Saturday, August 29 | 1–3 PM
📍 427 Grove St., Lena

⏰ Volunteer Orientation is almost here!If you’ve been thinking about getting involved with the Stephenson County Histori...
08/26/2026

⏰ Volunteer Orientation is almost here!

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved with the Stephenson County Historical Society, now is the time to RSVP.

We’ll offer both a morning and afternoon session, and we’d love to meet you, answer your questions, and show you how you can help preserve local history.

RSVP closes August 28.

https://form.jotform.com/262095691050052

Join us at the Freeport Public Library at 6PM this Thursday, August 27th, for a presentation entitled "Who is Buried at ...
08/25/2026

Join us at the Freeport Public Library at 6PM this Thursday, August 27th, for a presentation entitled "Who is Buried at Kellogg's Grove: a Black Hawk War Mystery."

The speaker is University of Illinois Chicago archaeologist James Meierhoff, Ph.D.

The presentation is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Douglas Society. It is free and open to the public.

We’ll have copies of Ghost Towns of Stephenson County available during our Ice Cream Social in Lena, and there’s an extr...
08/24/2026

We’ll have copies of Ghost Towns of Stephenson County available during our Ice Cream Social in Lena, and there’s an extra special reason to pick one up that day.

All profits from book sales at the event will be donated to the Lena Area Historical Society to support their efforts following the April tornado.

You get more than 300 pages of Stephenson County history AND help preserve another piece of it. ❤️

📅 Saturday, August 29
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Lena Area Historical Museum

🚧 Museum UpdateThe Stephenson County Historical Society will be closed for tours this weekend as the Carroll Street cons...
08/21/2026

🚧 Museum Update

The Stephenson County Historical Society will be closed for tours this weekend as the Carroll Street construction continues around the museum.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while all of this work is happening. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back soon!

Be sure to follow our page for the latest updates on access and tour hours. 🏛️

Address

1440 S Carroll Avenue
Freeport, IL
61032

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 3pm
Friday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(815) 232-8419

Website

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