Gift Shop |
The museum gift shop, located inside the entrance of the museum in the McEachren Annex, offers a variety of articles ranging from hand made items donated by volunteers to unique books, videotapes and note cards detailing various aspects of McHenry County history. Of special interest are the following items:
McHenry County in the 20th Century - Book containing over 1200 pages of McHenry County history including schools, townships, biographies and much more, $45.00
McHenry County Self-Guided Barn Tour - Booklet featuring 4 different tours of McHenry County highlighting area barns. Also contains detailed directions and descriptions, as well as an architectural glossary, $5.00.
"This Old Barn" - Video, narrated by WGN radio personality Orion Samuelson and featuring local barns and barn enthusiasts, $10.00.
Ostend An Early History of the Ostend and Bull Valley Area by Loren Thompson, $10.00.
These blank note cards come in packages of 3 and 4 cards with either
barn, barn quilt or costume Themes at a price of $6.oo & $8.00.
Coloring book of dolls in the
museum's doll collection...$4.00
Local History Items Available
The McHenry County Historical Society has a number of unique local history items available at the Society’s museum at 6422 Main Street, Union. First is The Greenwood Book, a recent award winner from the Illinois Association of Museums. The Greenwood Book which entertainingly traces the history of that township and its residents from early settlement times to the years following WWII is available at Knuth’s Office Outfitters, 110 S. Johnson on the Square in Woodstock and The Olive Branch, an antiques/collectibles shop, in downtown Greenwood at 4315 N. Greenwood Road. Hours there are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Friday and 11am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The book sells for $30.00 with all profits going to the McHenry County Historical Society.
Other local history books for sale at the museum include the large volume latest county history written in 1994 and titled McHenry County in the Twentieth Century. Its price has been reduced from $79.95 to $45.00. Additionally, the Society carries Volume I of the booklet “Marengo Homes, Vol. I: Washington and Prairie Streets for $13.00, a reprinted A History of the 36th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers During the War of the Rebellion for $32.00; Ostend – An Early History of the Ostend and Bull Valley Area for $10.00. “So I Hear,” a collection of long time McHenry Sports Writer Earl Walsh’s Recollections & Stories is also for sale for $5.00. “This Old Barn” -- a look at the barns of McHenry County and their future narrated by Orion Samuelson --is in video for $10.00 and DVD for $15.00. Another DVD covers the June, 1919 Homecoming for McHenry Co. WWI Veterans. Taken off an old 35mm film, the DVD shows the parade in Woodstock, early buildings on the Square and lots of early County residents. This DVD sells for $10.00.
Note cards of local barns, museum artifacts, lithographed 1872 structures and rag rugs produced on the museum loom are some of the unique offerings available. For further information on local products and/or gift memberships in the Historical Society, click on
Please stop in and visit -- all proceeds directly benefit the not-for-profit McHenry County Historical Society.