The Van Buren County Historical and Heritage Museum is ready to open again after being closed in 2020.
Van Buren County Historian Landon Medley said finding a way to open again was all about promoting the county and its cultural heritage. Medley said the museum covers education, local artifacts and events that many people might not know.
“Early part of the history of the county is Big Bone Cave,” Medley said. “Which was a saltpeter mining operation in early 1812 and that brought a lot of the early settlers not only into Van Buren County area but the Upper Cumberland region. That helped develop iron works and saltpeter mining.”
Medley said the focus right now is on preparing for the April 10 open house, but the museum is working to create more programs at the museum. He said the museum relies on the community to show the county’s journey since 1840.
“We are basically relying on people’s donations of their family history,” Medley said. “Any type of artifacts that they would like to donate to the museum to be displayed to represent their families.”
The Van Buren County Historical and Heritage Museum will be open April 10 from noon until 2:00 PM at the courthouse square in Spencer. Medley said the goal is to have the museum open every Saturday.