Exhibit Observations

Even though I have lived in Kankakee County for most of my life, I was not familiar with the museum until the past year or so. The first time I walked through the museum was the day of my interview, and I was overwhelmed with how nice everything was! I never realized how much history is found in Kankakee County, and every day I find out countless more facts about Kankakee’s rich history.

I wanted to use this first entry to tell all of you about my

favorite museum exhibit: The Story of Kankakee County. This is one of the newest exhibits: it opened this past May. This exhibit gives insight to early Kankakee County, especially Kankakee in particular. In it, you can see anything from a blacksmith’s bellow to a model of the Hotel Riverview to old medical supplies from Riverside Hospital. There is so much information, and countless pictures to complement the exhibits. I have spent a bit of time wandering through this room, and I still think I missed some of it.

This is my favorite exhibit because, for one, I really enjoy how open the room is. It is spacious, but still full of information. Everywhere you look, there is something to catch your eye, but it is not overly busy either. I love how much there is to this exhibit. This exhibit really gives you a sense of what life was like back before most of our modern advancements were here. As I said earlier, I have lived in Kankakee County for most of my life so there is some familiarity to the exhibits. This only enhances the exhibits, because I think it is much more interesting to know exactly where, say, the Hotel Riverview was located. I never knew it existed, but I could picture where the location is today.

If you stop in the museum soon, be sure to check out this exhibit. Even if you are not from the county, there is so much information and cool things to see. I’m sure you would enjoy it!

The South Gallery

You Learn Something Every Day: After the plans for a third courthouse (the one we know today) were completed, the second courthouse needed to be knocked down in 1908. Otha Grubbs, a struggling carpenter, promised $2 to dispose of the building and site within 2 months, while most contractors wanted the county to pay them. The county agreed to Grubbs, who sold the stone, timbers, steel, etc. He made over $2,000 and kept enough materials for his own business and several houses.

The Second Courthouse, demolished in 1908.