THE MUSEUM OF COLLINSVILLE HISTORY was established in 2006 as a preservation project of Collinsville Historical Association. The Town of Collinsville, Jimmy Carter mayor, offered a suite of rooms at the Collinsville Community Center that could be renovated and function as a place to preserve items relating to Collinsville history.
Three rooms, originally shower and locker rooms for the National Guard, were selected for our location. CHA re-wired, added dry wall, installed new lighting and heat and air. This was made possible by individual donations and labor and by the support of the Town who allowed us to operate over-head free.
The first items displayed in the museum were two Peoples Telephone Company switchboards (1908 and 1940). For the next eight years items were added from Collinsville schools, churches, banks, businesses, community clubs, post office, missionaries, artists and craftsmen, newspapers, many documents, pictures and personal collections. And our spacious museum needed more room to grow! We were boasting 100 donors and more than 1000 items!
CHA again approached the Town who voted to release a second suite of three rooms in the community center. Renovations began supported by donations of work and funds and by summer of 2014 we were excited to open the new addition. The new annex was dedicated to displaying military items, a printing press, spinning wheel, loom, cobbler’s bench and items from early Collinsville merchants and professionals. The museum was open Thursdays from 1 to 4.
In June 2015 we were gifted the vacated Main Street Liberty Bank building! It is difficult to express how much this gift enabled the museum to grow and expand! In the four years since the bank donation, we have moved downtown (a goal since the beginning), more than tripled the display area, added office, computer and work areas, doubled the items donated for display and created a space for groups to gather for viewing!
The museum is organized in sections, areas and rooms dedicated to various subjects. There is a bank and post office room, school room, church and music room, military, research, pioneer and heritage room. The entrance area features temporary displays, merchant and business displays, the town clock and bell, folk art and Cricket history. There also is a room dedicated to the history of the railroad…important since Collinsville grew around the completion of the railroad. The museum is open five days and other times by appointment. We welcome your visit!
We also welcome your donations. Any items including pictures, letters and documents pertaining to the history of Collinsville may be donated or loaned for display. Our missions is to assimilate, preserve and educate the public of the rich history of this area.
Three rooms, originally shower and locker rooms for the National Guard, were selected for our location. CHA re-wired, added dry wall, installed new lighting and heat and air. This was made possible by individual donations and labor and by the support of the Town who allowed us to operate over-head free.
The first items displayed in the museum were two Peoples Telephone Company switchboards (1908 and 1940). For the next eight years items were added from Collinsville schools, churches, banks, businesses, community clubs, post office, missionaries, artists and craftsmen, newspapers, many documents, pictures and personal collections. And our spacious museum needed more room to grow! We were boasting 100 donors and more than 1000 items!
CHA again approached the Town who voted to release a second suite of three rooms in the community center. Renovations began supported by donations of work and funds and by summer of 2014 we were excited to open the new addition. The new annex was dedicated to displaying military items, a printing press, spinning wheel, loom, cobbler’s bench and items from early Collinsville merchants and professionals. The museum was open Thursdays from 1 to 4.
In June 2015 we were gifted the vacated Main Street Liberty Bank building! It is difficult to express how much this gift enabled the museum to grow and expand! In the four years since the bank donation, we have moved downtown (a goal since the beginning), more than tripled the display area, added office, computer and work areas, doubled the items donated for display and created a space for groups to gather for viewing!
The museum is organized in sections, areas and rooms dedicated to various subjects. There is a bank and post office room, school room, church and music room, military, research, pioneer and heritage room. The entrance area features temporary displays, merchant and business displays, the town clock and bell, folk art and Cricket history. There also is a room dedicated to the history of the railroad…important since Collinsville grew around the completion of the railroad. The museum is open five days and other times by appointment. We welcome your visit!
We also welcome your donations. Any items including pictures, letters and documents pertaining to the history of Collinsville may be donated or loaned for display. Our missions is to assimilate, preserve and educate the public of the rich history of this area.
Collinsville Historical Association, 113 W Main St, Collinsville, AL 35961
