Quincy Museum | Organizational Background

Organizational Background

In 1962 the Quincy Museum began as a small museum for Indian artifacts in Indian Mounds Park in Quincy, Illinois. The original building was constructed by Dr. James Reed and the following year donated to the Quincy Park District. In 1963, Dr. John L. Snow was contacted to manage the museum with the help of Explorer Post Eagle Scouts. In 1965 the museum received its charter as a Not-for-Profit corporation. Under the guidance of Dr. Snow and it's Board of Directors, the museum grew and expanded and entertained visitors from around the world.

In 1969 the museum moved from Indian Mounds Park to Quinsippi Island, an island in the Mississippi River near the City of Quincy. With the help of the Moorman Manufacturing Company, and the Quincy Park District a new building was erected on the island. The new museum fit into the plans for new development on the island by the City of Quincy, and opened on May 22, 1971. The move sparked new interest in the museum and gifts and donations increased for the collections. In 1977 the Smithsonian Museum took a special interest in the museum and helped to expand and redesign exhibits for the museum's nationally important collection of Indian artifacts and their natural history collections. The Smithsonian donated a number of specially designed artifact cases for museum displays.

In 1980, the museum Board of Directors were looking to once again grow and expand their horizons. A new site more centrally located for visitation and school tours was being looked for. New marina development caused access problems to the island and restricted a large number of visitors from reaching the museum and enjoying the popular exhibits. The Richard F. Newcomb House became available for purchase in 1980. Built in 1890-91, it was a remarkable example of Victorian elegance. In 1980 the board leased the home from the Quincy College for one year.

In June of 1981 the funds had been raised through private donations and a major grant to purchase the home. Since that time grants totaling over a million dollars have helped to systematically restore the home room by room. The first floor with the exception of the kitchen has been returned to its original Victorian elegance, and today the home is on the National Register of Historic Places. The rooms on the second and third floor have been developed for exhibits and educational programs including a discovery room from hands-on-activities for children.

Donations to the collections have increase with this move and are now valued at more than a million dollars. Significant donations to the collections continue each year. The collections are maintained and stored on the fourth floor and basement areas. These areas have been finished off and have climate controls. No government funds have been used for this restoration process and much of the physical labor has been a labor of love totaling thousands of hours of donate effort. It is the result of free enterprise and generous and caring community and private foundation support. This shows remarkable progress for a small museum that started with a dream and forty-two dollars in its treasury.