The Grundy County Historical Society (GCHS)was established in early 1969 after Mabel Burrill convinced Marvin Luehrs, the new local radio station owner, to found the society, drawing on his previous experience with a historical society in Illinois before he moved to Trenton.

The inaugural meeting of the Historical Society attracted 60-70 attendees, and membership quickly expanded to over 100 within the first two weeks. By February 1974, the Historical Society was charged with sponsoring a bicentennial project—a new museum. With a deadline of July 4, 1976, efforts to raise funds, secure a location, and renovate the building for the museum began immediately.

The Grundy County Museum consists of three structures: the Main Building, the Baker School Building, and the Annex Building.

Main Building

The Main Building, formerly known as the "John Deere" building, stands at 1100 Tinsman Avenue. This three-story flat iron edifice was constructed in 1895 by William McVay. Initially, it served as a grain elevator, then as a hardware store and a machine shop. In 1974, Bert and Rose Hoover gifted the building to the Grundy County Historical Society. It was inaugurated as a museum on July 4, 1976, and underwent remodeling from 1981 to 1985.

The Main Building showcases a collection of our heritage, featuring displays of antique tools and technology, commercial and industrial history, medical and dental apparatus, glassware, period attire and furniture, church pews, Rock Island railroad artifacts, a caboose, and an operational farm windmill.

Baker School Building

Grundy County'sfinal one-room school, Baker School District 49, closed its doors in 1966. Verne and Marion VanHoozer generously donated the rural schoolhouse, which was relocated from their farm at 28th and Oklahoma to its present site at the corner of 11th and Tinsman in 1995.

Named after Christian Baker, an Ohio settler who donated the land for the original school, Baker School began its journey in the current building in 1919, with Mrs. Gladys McCarty as its inaugural teacher.

Today, Baker School stands as a treasure trove of history for all of Grundy County's one-room schools, preserving the legacy of its students and teachers. The schoolhouse is adorned with genuine furniture, fixtures, and artifacts that are emblematic of the era's one-room educational establishments.

Annex Building

The Annex Building, a restored flat iron structure over 100 years old, was once known as the Barton Building. Its distinctive shape made it a landmark, and it has a history as a brewery/speakeasy during Prohibition before being transformed into apartments and a cafe. Thanks to a donation from Nick and Cheri McHargue, the building's acquisition was made possible. It opened in alignment with Trenton's Sesquicentennial celebration in 2007 and was dedicated as part of the Museum on May 5, 2008.

A mural by local artist Jim Norris, depicting a 1940s Rock Island depot, graces the side of the building.

The Annex Building houses extensive collections honoring military, police, and fire service members. The displays feature weapons, uniforms, war memorabilia, equipment, photographs, and personal artifacts.