Museums in:

Carmi, Illinois

L. Haas Store Museum

Carmi, Illinois

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Specialized

The museum contains everything from native american artifacts (on loan from the Rebstock family) to a circa 1918 mail rig to hundreds of tools, photographs, and vintage clothing. One highlight are the hanging tools of Hawthorne township farmer Phil Hanna, "the humane hangman", who ended the life of Southern Illinois' most famous or infamous outlaw, Charlie Birger. Hanna presided over many early 20th century executions. The Haas Store building is a wonderful example of a cast iron storefront, and is located directly across from the Ratcliff Inn. You can tour the museum on line at L.Haas Store Museum. The museum underwent repairs in 2001 and has been organized with church and kitchen areas, communications, homelife, Native American, medical, military, and Carmi sections.

Matsel Cabin

Carmi, Illinois

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society

The State of Illinois contacted the Society in 1994 about a covered log cabin located along the right of way of Illinois Route 1 and in 1996 the Matsel Cabin was opened to the public. The state provided research and moving services on the structure, located approximately three miles south of Carmi. The society purchased a lot next to the Old Graveyard, which had been deeded to the society by its trustees in 1990, and secured a $20,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to restore the structure.

Ratcliff Inn Museum

Carmi, Illinois

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The WCHS was founded in 1957, and established its first museum in Carmi when the Ratcliff Inn was saved from destruction in 1960. Abraham Lincoln stayed in the Inn in 1840, and its original owner served in many county offices from 1818 to 1848.

Cemetery, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Specialized

General membership meetings are held in the spring and fall, with the latter featuring the annual Heritage House Award presentation. The background of this page is the Heritage House Plaque, and I have added a listing of all 32 houses honored since 1971, called heritagehouses.html.

Robinson-Stewart House

Carmi, Illinois

Historic House, Historical Society

The oldest home in Carmi, built 1814, containing historic furnishings of the Robinson, Stewart, Webb and Hay families. All artifacts were owned by Mary Jane Robison Stewart, who donated them and the house to the historical society in 1966.

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

March 10 - March 13, 2026

California Association of Museums 2026 Annual Conference

Omni Hotel

Los Angeles, California

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2026 conference, set to take place from March 10–13, 2026 in Los Angeles. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community at CAM 2026: Reframing

Reframing encapsulates the tangible nature of museum work–what we restore, revive, and rebuild–and the intangible nature of museum work–where we reflect, interpret, educate, and shift perspectives. On a larger scale, Reframing gives us the power to redefine who we are, why we’re important, and how we connect with and show up for our community. Reframing is resistance and resilience.

We look forward to reuniting with the California museum community in Los Angeles, March 10–13, 2026 at the Omni Hotel. Stay tuned for more annual conference developments.

April 29 - May 2, 2026

Oregon Museum Association 2026 Conference

Woodburn, Oregon

OMA will join forces with Oregon Heritage for a spring conference in Woodburn

Save the Date: 2026 Conference

For more information, please call !!!.

February 16 - February 18, 2026

Small Museum Association 42nd Annual Conference 2026

The Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

42nd Annual Conference: Climate Chang

Explore how museums are dealing with the challenges of climate change, from more extreme weather events to changing community needs. Join other small museum professionals and volunteers in discussing the key role small museums can play in educating, engaging, and supporting their communities in the face of changing physical and social climates

About the Conferenc

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues. We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers.