McHenry County Historical Museum

I’ve lived in McHenry County for 16 years and have been intending to visit this museum for about that long. I didn’t expect it to be thrilling, but it is my adopted county …

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Like all historical society museums, it was filled with random items that have no connection to each other, donated by local residents. Some of the items were pretty cool, but that didn’t diminish their randomness. Here’s a selection, with just a few comments.

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The small sign in the middle is the only reference to Cary I spotted in the entire museum.

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The sign from the fictional Tip Top Diner in Groundhog Day, filmed in Woodstock.

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Chester Gould, the guy who created and drew the Dick Tracy comic strip, lived in McHenry County. There used to be a Dick Tracy museum in Woodstock. I stuck my head in once, but didn’t go in. And then it closed.

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There was an old school and log cabin outside. The woman who took my money said she’d give me a tour if I wanted it, but I’ve been in enough old schools and log cabins to satisfy me for life.

After I finished touring the museum and was walking out, I noticed a small sign on the back of a display out in the middle of the museum that said “No photography without special permission from the staff.” Oops. Anyway, now I’ve seen it and can check it off my list of things to do in McHenry County.

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