Glen Carbon Heritage Museum

09/02/2026

🎉 Our New Website Is Here! 🎉

We’re excited to announce that the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum has a brand-new website! 🏛️

Visit gcheritagemuseum.com to explore the museum from wherever you are! You’ll find information about our exhibits, local history, upcoming events, museum hours, ways to get involved, and more.

Whether you’re a longtime Glen Carbon resident, a history enthusiast, or just curious about our community’s past, there’s always something new to discover. We hope our new website makes it easier than ever to explore, learn, and connect with Glen Carbon’s history.

💻 Visit us online: https://www.gcheritagemuseum.com

Take a look around and let us know what you think! ❤️

Learn about the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum and more Glen Carbon historic attractions.

09/02/2026

GHOSTS OF GLEN TICKETS GO ON SALE SOON!

The wait is almost over! Tickets for Ghosts of Glen go on sale Tuesday, September 8 at 9:00 AM.

Mark your calendars and be ready to grab your tickets before they disappear! 🎟️

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HXu94Ywyu/

09/01/2026

Next week, our commissioner, Mary, will be sharing information for intermediate level genealogists at the Heritage Museum. Join us on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30PM for this free presentation! Learn more on the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CqM4gf73P/

08/28/2026

Community Cookbook!

This week’s recipe from the Glen Carbon Community Cookbook comes from Loretta Dawson, a familiar and beloved member of the community. Loretta was involved with the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post #435, the Concerned Citizens of Glen Carbon, and more.

Loretta was known for enjoying time on her porch swing at her home on Main Street. Her love of that simple pleasure lives on at the Yanda Cabin, where the porch swing is dedicated to Loretta, her husband Jack, and their son Lonny.

And what better recipe to share than a classic white cake? Everyone needs a good, simple cake recipe, and Loretta’s version gets an extra-light, fluffy texture from meringue. A timeless recipe from a Glen Carbon resident!

08/24/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended Saturday's event, thank you to the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District for their continued support of the Heritage Museum, and thank you to the Slemer family for all of their donations to the museum. Anyone interested in learning more about the department should stop by and see the exhibit!

"The department was an important way to safeguard the community," Samantha Doolin says.
Click link in comments 👇️

08/21/2026

Community Cookbook Series!
This week’s recipe from the Community Cookbook series comes from Elsie Bowen Lischka, born in Glen Carbon in 1902. Elsie was active in the community and played a role in preserving Glen Carbon’s history while being involved in local women's organizations like the Pythian Sisters, Royal Neighbors, and the Methodist Church Ladies Circle.

Although Elsie’s parents came from Wales and England, she grew up in a community full of immigrant families and traditions from across Europe. Her recipe for vdolky offers a little taste of that cultural exchange.

Vdolky are traditional Czech yeast pastries, small, flat cakes that are typically fried or baked and topped with jam and cream cheese after cooking. While they look similar to kolache, the two are prepared differently. Kolache are baked with the fruit or sweet filling and vdolky are topped with it after baking.

A delicious example of how recipes and traditions traveled from kitchen to kitchen, becoming part of Glen Carbon’s own story!

08/17/2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our Puzzle Race last Saturday! 🧩🏆 We had a fantastic turnout, including quite a few returning competitors!

If you missed it or you’re ready for another challenge, keep an eye out for our next Puzzle Race in February. Each race features a different puzzle, so there’s always a new challenge to tackle!

We’ll see you at the next one! 🧩

08/17/2026

Stop by this Saturday, August 22nd from 11am to 1pm to check out our new Glen Carbon Fire Protection District exhibit and meet firefighters, play games, check out trucks, and eat ice cream! We hope to see you there!

Kids and adults can get an up-close look at fire trucks during the event.

08/14/2026

Community Cookbook recipe series!

Ann Wille spent her entire life in Madison County, including her final 34 years in Glen Carbon. Although the recipe she shared is Lithuanian, her parents immigrated from Croatia, a wonderful reminder of the many cultures and traditions that helped shape our community.

Kugele is a comforting baked potato pudding. Earlier versions were made with noodles, bread, or grains, but as potatoes became a staple crop in the 19th century, they became the star ingredient. Whether it reminds you of a family recipe or you're discovering it for the first time, it's a delicious piece of culinary history!

08/12/2026

The Heritage Museum will be closed today, Wednesday August 12th. Visit us tomorrow or Friday during regular hours.