Monroe County History Museum, Waterloo

About Monroe County History Museum

The Monroe County History Museum in Waterloo preserves and displays the extensive Kueker Collection alongside rotating exhibits that chronicle the region's past. Visitors explore permanent displays featuring artifacts from settlement of the west, agriculture, local commerce, transportation, and military history across several wars. The Allscheid-Metzger Gallery houses a black 1917 Chevrolet Model D V-8 touring car, a bedroom set from the Illinois Governor's Mansion, the Allscheid Rock Shelter diorama, and Kueker wagons. The Luhr Lobby, HTC Learning Center, and Zimmer Gallery provide additional exhibition spaces, with the Learning Center offering a short video about collector Edd Kueker. Current rotating exhibits include "The Lure of the Land," depicting immigrant settlement and growth in Southern Illinois, and "Wheels and Deals," displaying various transportation forms and international currency. Programs and presentations occur in the Allscheid-Metzger Gallery. The air-conditioned, handicapped-accessible museum suits history enthusiasts and families exploring regional heritage through artifacts and changing exhibits. Group tours are available by appointment any day of the week.