Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum in Carthage will open for the season on Wednesday, April 1. The free
museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Special groups or class tours can be arranged during those hours or at other times.
The museum was created around the large natural history collection from Dr. Alice Kibbe, former
biology professor of Carthage College. It has expanded to include items from homes, farms, businesses,
fashions and military items of Hancock County’s past; and relics from Carthage College, Native
Americans, and fossils and rocks of the region.
Special exhibits focus on the origins of Memorial Hospital and healthcare in Hancock County; Abraham
Lincoln’s life and death, the pioneer and Civil War eras, and his connections to Hancock County; plus
funeral customs, and much more.
There are household rooms displayed, military uniforms and gear from as early as the Civil War, toys,
and special items from towns all around the county.
The museum is closed on Mondays, and on major holidays. Paid staff will share weekly duties as host at
the museum along with weekend volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering as a museum host can
call the museum during open hours for more information.
The museum is located at 306 Walnut Street in Carthage. For information, call 217-357-9552.