Carl L. Schweinfurth Historical Museum and Interpretive Center
Proudly They Served
Military Uniforms
The many aspects of the lives of Jefferson County military personnel and their families are portrayed---dating from the Civil War to the present: how they lived, what they wore, where they served, what they wrote, what they collected, where they lived, and how they served with honor and pride.
Photography and Radio
In photography, the steps from tin-types and experimenting with developing agents through various films, exposure meters, and flash-guns have led to the electronic digital cameras.
In the early development of the radio, humming wires carried radio messages. Now transistor radios have continued to allow man to share his dreams, his political stands, and his laughter.
“There is no struggle”
This exhibit traces the growth of the African American community in Jefferson County through education, religion, and community organizations.
Archaeology of Southern Illinois
Contains a display of the artifacts found in the area. Many of these are from the Fry site which is now under Rend Lake. The collection includes pottery, flint tools, arrowheads as well as geological specimens.
Pioneer Weavers
Made by Hand. To warm a body, to decorate the home, and to lift a hot lid, fiber was spun and woven into articles that brought beauty and utility into the home.
U.S. Railroad Postal Clerks
Steaming through the countryside, railway postal workers were aboard mail coaches, sorting and delivering mail across the county.
The Art of Blacksmithing
Through the blacksmith's strokes on the anvil that formed the traditional horse shoes and tools to the current artistic strokes that create a whimsical fisherman or resplendent flowers, the art of blacksmithing has evolved.
Quilts of the Past
Made by Hand. Quilts reflect a variety of cloth materials and prints that combine in artistic designs and are quilted to provide bedding, throws, and hangings.
Lincoln Was Here
Throughout his service in courts in Illinois, Abraham Lincoln visited several sites in Jefferson County. This gallery locates many of these sites.