Barrington History Museum

About Barrington History Museum

The Barrington History Museum preserves and displays the historical treasures of Barrington through exhibits and educational programs tailored for preschoolers through adults. Visitors explore the Old Barrington Center complex, which includes two restored folk Victorian houses on Main Street that serve as the main museum building. The centerpiece is the fully operational Wichman Blacksmith Shop, dating to 1929, where a working forge demonstrates traditional blacksmithing techniques. The museum also features the Creet Carriage Barn, an Exhibit Center, and the Applebee One Room Schoolhouse, which offers interactive programs where visitors experience 1900s-style education. The permanent collection includes period wedding dresses and artifacts documenting Barrington's history since its 1863 incorporation. The Jewel Tea Historical Foundation operates within the museum, collecting and displaying Jewel Tea Company products, documents, and Autumn Leaf China while offering educational seminars. The museum complex, founded in 1968, serves as an integral cultural institution in Barrington, Illinois.