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Museum  Spring/Summer Schedule
May through September
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
10 am - 2 pm
​Sunday 12-4 p.m.

​Museum tours available by appointment
 We will attempt to accommodate travelers, family groups home for the holidays.
Also, during  this period, the  "OPEN" sign will be out on the days
that we are in the building working on the displays.
 
​Please text 833.228.8603, or email to schedule a visit.
​121 S Macoupin St Gillespie, IL 62033
October 8th. At 7 pm
Illinois Coal Museum
​ At Gillespie,
​121 S. Macoupin St
Jim Marcacci and John Ubben will visit an 'entertaining' time in Coal Country history.

​The Museum will open at 6 pm prior to the presentation
Our Lecture Series got off to a wonderful start with Andrea's Route 66 presentation. Here she explains the map pinning at various locations along the route, in this photo, European travelers visiting Doc's Soda Fountain, Girard
September 10th. At 7 pm
Illinois Coal Museum At Gillespie, 121 S. Macoupin St
Andrea Duncan will present an entertaining tour of Macoupin County on Route 66,
the most famous road in the world.
The museum will open at 6 pm prior to the presentation
​Born and raised in Macoupin County, Andrea Duncan comes from coal mining and farming families, Macoupin County’s main industries. After retiring from teaching in 2010, Andrea joined the Carlinville Tourism Committee where she was able to share her love of Macoupin County history with all who want to learn. Her passion is the Macoupin County’s “Million Dollar Courthouse” and she has given numerous tours over the years to visitors of all ages.
​Andrea will be sharing all that Macoupin County has to offer Route 66 visitors. She has given this specific presentation to county, district-wide, and state conferences and it has been well received. The Blue Carpet Corridor slogan “Miners, Mobsters, and the Mother Road” highlights the history of Macoupin County. Andrea has taken her passion for photography to develop a slide show which will give a glimpse into the history of the attractions along Route 66, starting in Virden and traveling south to Staunton. From the labor movement to a million dollar scandal to quirky family fun, Macoupin County has something to offer every Route 66 traveler.
Recently at the Museum
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Dr. Andreas Pantazatos, Department of Philosophy at the Centre for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage, Durham, UK, recently spent several hours touring our museum. The Durham area was a leader in  coal production and home  to thousands of former miners. The conversations of the similarities between Coal Country and Durham will be continuing long after Andreas' return home.    
COAL MINES ONE THE PRAIRIE,  written by former Gillespie resident Harold 'Herk' Rauzi, is a great snapshot of our Coal Country history. On sale now at the museum (only  $10).
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Bill Winkelblack stopped by to peruse the 1950's Coliseum posters, including the Will Black Orchestra
Louann Brown paints another masterpiece adding a great photo -op to the museum facade. 
The Collinsville Parks & Recreation summer kids program - science week - included a coal museum stop. Among the topics covered were ; past and current coal mining methods, mining hazards and safety measures, coal formation, and past and current environmental issues. Their lunch break included the Benld Coliseum video. Great kids with plenty of questions.  
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The first of 3 waves of  the Illinois Route 66 Association Motor tour 2019 viewed the Coliseum Ballroom and The Wickedest City In America. The approximately 50 '66 Road Warriors' enjoyed the presentation by display creator Jim Marcacci and posed many follow up questions.  Many of the repeat visitors  mentioned their stopping in again on the 2020 Motor Tour to see what other exhibit additions and enhancements we complete.       
Gillespie Middle School  group toured the museum to gather information for a week long, school year ending coal mining project. 
The tourist season has begun.  Here is a selection of  some of the people and places represented  this May.
The Illinois Mining Institute, a very good  friend of the museum,  held their quarterly meeting ,had a luncheon, and  viewed the coal museum that they helped  create. 
​Thank You!
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The Gillespie High School  faculty also toured the museum.  Along with the preservation  of our rich history and  the associated educational potential the museum offers, Grow Gillespie  and it's  focus on retaining our next generation was introduced. 
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The Gillespie Middle School faculty learned of the rich Coal Country history that the museum offers.  Our unique story and place the growth of the nation may soon be add to the curriculum.  Touching upon the people an coal industry  topics in the science, through social studies and, of course, history classes, Coal Country will be remembered.          
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The Coal Museum, Coal Country , and I have lost a wonderful friend. The passing of Chuck Voyles will leave  sadness and a void that will not be filled, but his legacy, his memorabilia and stories are displayed throughout the  museum.  Although I will miss you, every museum visitor will know of you.
Dave