Marion County Historical Society

The Marion County Historical Society (MCHS), a community resource, promotes the appreciation of regional history by present and future generations. The Society connects the past to the present by preserving and interpreting the county's cultural and natural history.

MCHS is preserving the county's cultural and natural history by:

• Acknowledging that preservation of historical materials is not an end in itself but a catalyst for the interpretation of local history.
  
  
• Gathering a regionally significant collection of books, publications, archival materials, photographs, ephemera, oral histories and other materials documenting the history and people of Marion County.
  
  
• Organizing, storing, indexing and reformatting collection materials to maximize their availability and use by society members, researchers and the general public.
  
  
• Encouraging the preservation of Marion County history through personal and public efforts which complement, reference or enhance the collections at MCHS.
  
  
• Facilitating preservation projects which reflect the cultural, ethnic, religious and philosophical diversity of Marion County.

MCHS is interpreting the county's cultural and natural history by:

• Maintaining a historical society, museum and education center that facilitates the work of the MCHS.
  
  
• Publishing local histories which inform and entertain current readers while establishing a permanent written record of the history of Marion County.
  
  
• Enhancing the general level of knowledge about and appreciation of local history and historical sites through quality exhibits, programs and special events.
  
  
• Developing educational and interpretive programs which reflect the cultural, ethnic, religious and philosophical diversity of Marion County which inspires further exploration of local history and historical sites.
  
  
• Employing the unique qualities of personal, family and local history to enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors.