The Grundy County Historical Society (GCHS) began in early 1969 when Mabel Burrill persuaded Marvin Luehrs, the new owner of the local radio station, to start the society since he had been involved in a historical society in Illinois prior to moving to Trenton.

The first meeting of the Historical Society drew a crowd of 60-70 people with the membership growing to more than 100 people within the first two weeks. In February 1974, the Historical Society was tasked with sponsoring a bicentennial project - a new museum. The project had to be completed by July 4, 1976 so no time was wasted raising funds, acquiring a site, and remodeling the building to accommodate the museum.

The Grundy County Museum is composed of three physical facilities, the Main Building, the Baker School Building, and the Annex Building.

Main Building

The Main building, the old "John Deere" building located at 1100 Tinsman is a restored three-level flat iron structure built in 1895 by William McVay. The building operated as a grain elevator; a hardware, implement and parts store; and finally as a machine shop. Bert and Rose Hoover donated the building to the Grundy County Historical Society in 1974. The building was dedicated as a museum on July 4, 1976, and remodeled in 1981-85.

The Main Building exhibits our heritage displays of antique tools & technology, commercial and industrial traditions, medical and dental equipment, glassware, period furniture and clothing, church pews and furniture, Rock Island railroad equipment and memorabilia, a caboose and a working farm windmill. 

Baker School Building

Grundy County's last one-room school, Baker School District 49, closed in 1966.  Verne and Marion VanHoozer donated the rural schoolhouse, which was moved from the VanHoozer farm at 28th and Oklahoma to its current location on the corner of 11th and Tinsman in 1995. 

Baker School was named for Christian Baker, a settler from Ohio, who donated the land were the original school was built. The present building was used for the first time in 1919 with Mrs. Gladys McCarty serving as the first teacher.

Baker School serves as a repository for information about all Grundy County's one-room schools, students and teachers. Displays include authentic furniture, fixtures and artifacts typically found in one-room schoolhouses.

Annex Building

The Annex building is a restored +100 year old flat iron structure formerly known as the Barton building. A landmark for its unique shape the building was once a brewery/speak-easy during prohibition and later was converted into apartments and a cafe. A donation by Nick and Cheri McHargue made the acquisition of the structure possible. Opening in conjunction with Trenton's Sesquicentennial celebration in 2007 the building was dedicated as a part of the Museum on May 5, 2008.

Adorning the side of the building is a mural depicting a 1940's Rock Island depot painted by local artist Jim Norris.

The Annex Building displays our extensive collections dedicated to those who serve in the military and as police and fire personnel. Included in the displays are weapons, uniforms, war souvenirs, equipment, photographs and personal items.