We know you value our community and its cultural heritage, so we want to share some exciting news with you; the Ethnic Heritage Museum has plans for expansion. If you have visited the museum, you know that it operates from an extremely modest building on South Main Street with six small galleries—each one representing an ethnic group that settled here.

 

The museum plans to remain in the same location but add 1,800 square feet of space for a multipurpose room, accessible restrooms, a library, office, kitchenette and basement. This new area will host activities such as cultural crafts, genealogy lectures, guest receptions, outreach programs for neighborhood children and Girl Scout badge projects. The Ethnic Heritage Museum wants to better serve our Southwest Corridor neighbors and schoolchildren, as well as all of Rockford, by growing where our forebears settled. The museum also plans to extend visiting hours and eventually hire a paid employee instead of relying 100% on volunteers.

 

Museum volunteers have worked hard to develop plans and seek funding for this addition. As a result, they have secured funds needed through a $100,000 Lockwood grant plus an additional $100,000 from the State of Illinois.

 

The remaining $100,000 will depend on the generosity of dedicated businesses, individuals and friends like you.

 

MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY!!! Please join in the mission to “build our future from our past” in southwest Rockford where our city’s story began. Thank you for your consideration and support!