Housed in a vintage 1914 school building, our museum building will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary. We are pleased to share this building with you complete with the original hard wood floors and tin ceilings. Great lengths were taken to restore this building back to its original grandeur. Visitors to the museum will be treated to displays and memorabilia of early Glen Carbon that have been donated by citizens of the Village.
The Museum is listed in a brochure of museums in Illinois that have archaeological information about the local area. The Museum is in possession of a series of books about local prehistory and history. Artifacts from the Middle Woodland Village site that was destroyed by development in the Meridian Road area as well as artifacts that were recovered from doing the archaeological investigation at the Yanda Log Cabin are on display.
Museum News:
The museum is busting at the seams with events and new exhibits. We have a portion of our bride doll collection on display up in the doll room, and we have the new exhibit of our completely hand-made doll house on display in the doll room. We’ve also added to the Architectural displays in the Revolving Room. Please stop by and see it some time.
When was the last time you could take your family out for the entire day, and it didn’t cost you a dime! The Glen Carbon Heritage Museum and the Centennial Library are doing just that! On June 9th, the museum will be hosting its first “Wilderness Camp”. The camp is slated for June 9th, from 11am – 5pm on the back lawn of the museum. We’re extremely happy to bring in different artisans, re-enactors and story tellers to the museum for a real flavor of what it might have been like in the 1800’s. Each family will have the opportunity to meet our friends from the past, as well as take part in our “Make & Take” arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt inside the museum (with an accompanying adult), and enjoy a small snack. We have spaced out the Wilderness Camp so that families can come and enjoy themselves either before or after the Library’s Summer Reading Program, which is from 1-3pm. We’d like our children to be able to experience everything Glen Carbon has to offer, so please watch the village website as there will be more surprises and events as the day gets closer!
We’re happy to say that we will once again be in the homecoming parade and this year, the GLEN Committee has offered us informational space in a booth partnership with them. You’ll be able to see what type of things the museum has been doing and has to offer. Please stop by the booth and pick up a brochure.
July will be a quiet time for us here at the museum as far as events. This time will be used to gear up for our fall activities. We are in the process of trying to secure a guest speaker for August; however, plans have not been finalized yet. So watch the village website for further details.
A look Ahead - - - -
We will have additional guest speakers from time to time and back by popular demand, we plan to have another Ghost Hunting Speaker in September or October. However this time there’s a twist! We are planning this one for KIDS! The Title of the program is, “Ghosts Are Not Scary Things”. Our favorite paranormal team will be back and Brian and the crew will explain to the kids (and parents too!) what ghosts are and why it’s ok for them to still be here. We will be doing a museum walk-through to show the kids how the team does their job and we’re planning an additional surprise for everyone that comes that night. It will be from 6:30-9:00, and the date will be filled in later, so stay tuned for more information.
And as always, our Community Room is available to host your organization’s meeting. Whether it is a scout troop, a civic or social organization, we’d love to have you and take a tour of our wonderful facility as part of your meeting program. Private tours are always available here a the museum by appointment. Please contact Museum Aide, Sheila Martin at either 618-288-7271 or
for more information.
Yanda Log Cabin
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Hours of Operation:
April-October
4th Saturday
of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location
148 Main Street
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The Yanda Log Cabin is believed to have been built by blacksmith William Yanda in 1853. William Yanda (1818-1885) and his wife Annie Zeola (1823-1901) were immigrants from Bohemia, Austria. William and Annie and their ten children lived in the cabin. Frank (1846-1912), their oldest son also became a blacksmith. He practiced his craft in other towns in the area and eventually moved back to the "homeplace" in 1882 with his wife Anna Benda (1845-1912). Frank and Anna raised eleven children in the cabin. Frank sold the cabin to his son Frank Jr. (one of the early mayors of the Village of Glen Carbon). Frank Jr. did not have any children. He sold the cabin and eventually the Village of Glen Carbon bought the lot and cabin in 1989. A cabin renovation was begun the 1989 and was concluded in time for the Village's Centennial Celebration in June 1992.
The cabin is managed by the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum. If anyone wishes to see or use the cabin for events, they may contact the Heritage Museum Aide office at (618) 288-7271 or Museum Commission Secretary, Maureen Kobler at (618) 288-0698 for more information.
Yanda Log Cabin News:
Big things are happening at the Yanda Log Cabin! We are turning the cabin into a real historical attraction. Throughout the summer we will be searching down artifacts and reproductions to turn back the clock to 1853. These changes will enhance our cabin experience tremendously, and once we are done with our renovations, you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time to 1853.
Because of these changes, we are no longer able to offer the interior of the cabin for private events. The cabin is open on the 4th Saturday of each month through October from 10am – 2pm even during our renovation work. Our lovely flower gardens will once again be in full bloom for pictures, and our outdoor pavilion is always available for a quick picnic with the kids and the cabin would lend a perfect backdrop to special summer event!
We are going to try and revitalize the Summer Concert program at the Cabin, watch for more details to come. And we’re working on plans to make the cabin available for family pictures for this year’s Christmas Cards. We had a family ask us to do this last year and their photos were beautiful. More details to come. And if you would like a private tour of the cabin, please contact Museum Aide, Sheila Martin to make arrangements.
Come by and see us, we’ll have a rocking chair with your name on it!