About the Old Museum

Museum at 2121 7th St.

​

The building that housed the Clay County Society and Museum started as the City Hospital in 1925 at the cost of $88,000.

​

The hospital served the community well and as it was released from service and it was renovated to be a nursing home. Again serving where there was a need. In 1975 the need ended and the nursing home closed.

​

By 1975 the Clay County Historical Society had outgrown its location with not only genealogy information but artifacts as well. There was a need for a new building and the old hospital seemed to fit the bill. Cathy Haney, the president of the board at the time, approached the hospital board at a meeting. When the meeting was over the Society had a new home.

 

In the 40 years that followed, more information and artifacts came to the Society so it was easier to be called a museum. However, over the years the wonderful three story building became too small for the collection. This led to the search for a new home for the artifacts of Clay County.