bureau county historical society museum

The quantity and quality of exhibits are quite large for a county level museum thanks to the forward looking founders of Princeton. Museum takes up two large old homes in the middle of town. Extensive genealogy research material also available. Took a tour with the director who is very knowledgeable and an original curator of the 20,000 glass negatives (photos) from the H.W. Immke collection. Well worth a day trip drive.

My trip to Princeton was a genealogy quest for information on my GG and GGG grandparents. Ladies at the Historical Society Museum were most helpful and found glass negatives from the H.W. Immke collection of my GG aunt, and children taken in 1876 and 1880. Awaiting copies and quite excited. Have never found photos of any ancestors this old.

We didn't have family to research in Bureau County but as genealogists stopped by just to check out what they offered. Friendly staff spent about a half hour with us--even though they weren't actually open that day! Spacious research facilities.

Visited on a field trip with a grade school class. Very nice museum for a small town. The guides were very informative and knowledgeable about the displays. Well worth the visit, especially if you or your ancestors were from the area.