Crittenden County Historical Museum

Crittenden County Historical Museum Authentic memorabilia from Crittenden County's past. Crittenden County Historical Museum is housed in the oldest church in Marion, built in 1881. Open 10 a.m.

The interior of the church includes the original wood floors, pulpit, balcony and stain glass windows. Among the hundreds of local items on display is
- a large collection of military uniforms and service-related articles, dating back to the Civil War;
- a 200-year-old loom;
- spinning wheels;
- a large collection of farm related items;
- the bell from the county's first court house;
- church bell

s with funeral toller;
- old telephone switchboard;
- a large collection of old Marion photos;
- vintage clothing and accessories dating back to the early 1900's;
- papers and memorabilia from Marion's two United States senators;
- memorabilia, pictures and histories of many of the one room school houses; and
- the Marion High School Memory Room. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday from April through October. Special tours in the off-season can be arranged.

Enjoy reading and learning about some of our old historical churches and tabernacles? The Museum has a nice collections...
08/26/2026

Enjoy reading and learning about some of our old historical churches and tabernacles? The Museum has a nice collections of items donated from churches that have been closed over the years, lots of written information, and many pictures. Take some time out and stop by and enjoy the many historical items.

Recently donated to the Crittenden County Historical Museum are the rare, one of a kind, emblems of those early Tolu bas...
08/07/2026

Recently donated to the Crittenden County Historical Museum are the rare, one of a kind, emblems of those early Tolu basketball days when their school emblem was the Tolu Indians. (No doubt from the Indians that once lived where the school was built)

These wonderful items were donated to the Museum by Jay Morris, formally from Marion, but now lives in Princeton, Ky. His father, Joe Morris, lived in Tolu and went to Tolu High School Joe graduated in March 1943.

These items came off his Tolu red athletic sweater. The sweater had deteriorated through the years but these emblems, where he played basketball for three years, were still in excellent shape.

It is believed the Tolu Indians was changed to the Tolu Hornets sometimes in the 1960’s.

Some more local history items have come back home to Crittenden after being in Bethalto, Ill for many years. They belon...
08/01/2026

Some more local history items have come back home to Crittenden after being in Bethalto, Ill for many years. They belonged to Lucille (Travis) Sephenson. Lucille lived in the Mattoon area of Crittenden and attended Mattoon Grade and High High. She graduated from Mattoon High School in 1939. Items included a Friendship Quilt, 8th Grade graduating Diploma and her school ring from Mattoon . Items were donated by her daughter, Janis Stephenson from Bethalto, Ill.

In our antique and heritage toy display case we have some unusual and interesting items. A very unique item is the litt...
07/11/2026

In our antique and heritage toy display case we have some unusual and interesting items. A very unique item is the little paper mache horse pull toy. There has never been any information about it, such as who donated it, where it originally came from, or the history of how it got to the museum. It was just there. After some research I found that "paper mache horse pull toys became popular in Germany and France in the late 19th century, evolving from expensive carved wooden horses to more affordable and easier to produce toys made by combining a formed body or frame with paper and glue. These "Putz" horses were lightweight, often featuring painted faced and mohair manes and tails, and were produced on wooden or metal wheels." This toy has little metal wheels and someone had put in a yarn tail, as I guess the mohair mane and tail had come out.

Another visit to the School Room, trying to solve a mystery. It would have been before Crittenden and Marion consolidat...
07/07/2026

Another visit to the School Room, trying to solve a mystery. It would have been before Crittenden and Marion consolidated, as it is green and white the Shamrock colors. But is it Crittenden's or not. Please read information card for more.

The Crittenden County Historical Museum thanks all the dedicated and hard workers that put together the "Legacy of Liber...
06/28/2026

The Crittenden County Historical Museum thanks all the dedicated and hard workers that put together the "Legacy of Liberty" celebration. Although it was damped a little with the rain, it was still a success and brought many people to our little town to enjoy all the events. The Museum had several visitors, which we appreciated very much and all seemed to enjoy the local history on display. Two special visitors that visited and to say Hello were "Julius Fohs" aka Brennan Cruce, one of Marion's finest young men, (Brennan is our Vice-President), and Marion's most famous cat "Snowball" with his chaperone, our popular Circuit Clerk, Melissa Guill. Thank you to all that visited and hope you come back soon.

Up stairs at the Museum is a special room named the School Room. It is full of many interesting items, lots of history,...
06/11/2026

Up stairs at the Museum is a special room named the School Room. It is full of many interesting items, lots of history, pictures, and things from the good old school days. A new item just added is a beautiful and unique piece of Crittenden County HS history/memorabilia donated by the Joyce Travis Belt family. Be sure and visit and enjoy these items.

In the year 1956 The Crittenden Press had advertisements for these seven new car dealerships. * Runyan Chevrolet Co.- ...
05/30/2026

In the year 1956 The Crittenden Press had advertisements for these seven new car dealerships.
* Runyan Chevrolet Co.- Buick & Chevrolet.
* Crittenden Motor Co. – Ford
* Cruce Motor Co. – Oldsmobile
* Fritts Motor Sales – Chrysler & Plymouth
* Marvel and Harmon Nash Garage – Nash
* Chipps Bros. Implement Co. – Pontiac
* Sid Johnson Motor Sales – Packard
(Johnson's was located 4 miles south of Marion on Hwy. 641.)

Here are some interesting 'car' items that are displayed at the Museum

The Museum has several displays in the Military section. All kinds of interesting items to see how things were back dur...
05/23/2026

The Museum has several displays in the Military section. All kinds of interesting items to see how things were back during the War days of WW II, and several local families donated items that were worn by their husbands, fathers, etc. Here are a few for this Memorial Day 2026.

A new item recently added to the wonderful Marion High School Memory room is the Basketball Sports Jacket and basketball...
04/13/2026

A new item recently added to the wonderful Marion High School Memory room is the Basketball Sports Jacket and basketball pin that belonged to Audrey "Sonny" Belt. He graduated from Marion High School in 1955. Donated by his granddaughter Shanna Belt.

Address

124 E Bellville Street
Marion, KY
42064

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+12709972593

Website

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