Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois, Hillsboro

About Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois

The Historical Society of Montgomery County operates the Harkey House and adjacent Montgomery County Museum in Hillsboro, preserving the region's history since 1913. Visitors tour the Harkey House, built in 1834 by Solomon Harkey, to examine period furnishings and learn how the Harkey family lived. The Montgomery County Museum, possibly part of Hillsboro's first schoolhouse, features hand-hewn beams and original carpenter signatures alongside rotating quarterly exhibits. Current exhibits include Early Schools and Churches of Montgomery County. The Society hosts events throughout the year, including a buttonologist presentation, a Looking for Lincoln walking and driving tour, an Underground Railroad musical program featuring songs of freedom, and a Christmas house tour with nativity display. The gift shop and the Society's archives are located in the museum. School groups and adults visit to explore Montgomery County's exploration, settlement, agriculture, industry, and cultural advancement. The facilities suit anyone interested in regional history and nineteenth-century domestic life.