Located at 109 West Main Street, just one block north of the Birthplace Home of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States, stands a former West Branch business building, constructed in 1884.

Housed in this typical Midwestern mercantile building of the late 1880's is the West Branch Heritage Museum. Free to the public, the Heritage Museum traces the history of the first Quaker pioneers who arrived from Pennsylvania and Ohio in the 1850's and the growth of the Town of West Branch and its surrounding countryside into the 1900's.

Historic articles housed in the Heritage Museum include primitive hand tools, collections of tin ware, glass, china, silver, toys, a 100-year old parlor organ, and mannequins dressed in historic clothing. Relics of a home near West Branch used by the abolitionist John Brown as he planned the movement that led ultimately to his 1859 raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia, are exhibited.

Also on display are locally discovered artifacts of early North American man including Clovis pants and other Indian relics. Included in this exhibit is an Indian buffalo robe decorated with allegorical symbols. It is said to be one of three of its kind in existence.

At the present time the Heritage Museum is closed due to extensive water damage created by a leak in the roof. Many items have been moved to safe areas for protection. The West Branch Heritage Museum is undertaking a major fund raising project to help finance roof repairs and updating the building. We hope to we can count on your support. Become a member or make a donation and preserve a piece of West Branch's Past.

Send a request for more information or any questions to the West Branch Chamber of Commerce at wbchamb@netins.net
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Last modified October 2000