Building New Doors To Our Past
The History Museum on the Square is Quincy's gateway to the past, welcoming thousands of visitors each year to trace the path from our pioneer beginnings to present day. From hosting school field trips to preserving priceless artifacts, our museum has become a cornerstone of education and cultural preservation in Adams County.
With the support of people like you, we’re working to build an exciting expansion that transforms how our community experiences its heritage. Our planned 3,700-square-foot addition will create universal access to our exhibits, protect our historic building, and enhance our gathering spaces for learning and discovery.
By joining this campaign, you'll help ensure our museum serves every member of our community for generations to come.
HSQAC is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
A Historic Opportunity
Your investment comes at a pivotal moment. With a $1.5 million state grant secured and Quincy's bicentennial in 2025, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine what a community museum can be. Your support will help create:
- A welcoming ground-level entrance for all visitors
- An elevator reaching every floor
- Modern, accessible restrooms
- Expanded community gathering spaces
- A downtown home for our Lincoln Gallery
- Critical preservation work on our historic 1888 building
Creating Lasting Impact
Your gift does more than construct an addition – it expands the reach and impact of our region's oldest historical society. Together, we'll:
Welcome visitors of all abilities to explore our exhibits
It takes nine steep steps to enter the Museum, and 24 more to get to the second floor exhibits. Creating a ground-floor entrance and installing an elevator allows everyone equal access to the Museum.
Protect priceless artifacts for future generations
The Lincoln Gallery contains objects from the life and assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. These artifacts require special temperature and lighting to protect and display them.
Create new spaces for community programs and events
Adding an elevator will allow HSQAC to utilize the striking Stained Glass Gallery on the second floor for lectures and events. It will also let us open the room for community events and private rentals.
Ensure our historic building serves Quincy for another century
Historic buildings have specialized maintenance needs. This project lets us begin addressing those needs by checking off the first major item on the list: a new roof over the Ernest Wood Addition.
Establish a maintenance endowment for long-term sustainability
Once we meet our construction costs, HSQAC will use the rest of the money raised to establish an endowment to help alleviate the cost of future maintenance projects.
A History Worth Sharing
Since 1888, this landmark on the corner of Fourth and Maine Streets has been a cornerstone of learning and community gathering in Quincy. For nearly a century, it served as the Quincy Free Public Library and Reading Room, where generations of residents discovered new worlds through books and came together to share ideas. The building's mission of accessibility – of making knowledge freely available to all – continues today as the History Museum on the Square. While the books have given way to exhibits and artifacts, the heart of this institution remains unchanged: it's still a place where everyone in our community can gather to learn, explore, and connect with our shared heritage.
Your Gift Matters
Every gift brings us closer to making history accessible for all. Your contribution, whether $5 or $500, plays a vital role in:
- Creating equal access for all visitors
- Preserving our historic building
- Protecting irreplaceable artifacts
- Expanding educational programs
- Enhancing community gathering spaces
Individuals can make a single donation, schedule a monthly contribution, honor a family or individual's legacy by naming a space in the Museum, or include us in their estate planning.
