About
Our Mission
Keeping History Alive Through preservation and education
The Barrington History Museum’s purpose is to ensure our past remains vibrant. We gather, maintain, document, and display Barrington’s historical treasures while offering tailored educational experiences for all ages, from preschoolers to adults.
Early Beginnings
The Barrington History Museum
The Barrington History Museum, formally the Barrington Area Historical Society was founded in 1968 by local residents dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Barrington area. Since that time, the Museum has become an integral part of the Barrington area communities.
Currently the Museum operates from two restored folk Victorian houses on Main Street in Barrington. The Museum’s Store is on the first floor of the Donlea-Kincaid House. The Museum’s offices are on the second-floor of the Applebee House.
In 1999, the original Wichman Blacksmith Shop dating back to 1929 was moved from its original location on Station Street in downtown Barrington to the grounds of the Barrington History Museum, located behind the Donlea-Kincaid House. The Creet Carriage Barn, a forge, and a lobby area were added to the Blacksmith Shop to create a historical streetscape. The Applebee House, Donlea-Kincaid House, Blacksmith Shop, Creet Carriage Barn, Forge, Exhibit Center and Applebee One Room Schoolhouse now comprise the museum complex known as Old Barrington Center.