Will County Heritage Alliance
Will County Heritage Alliance Inaugural Meeting, March 3, 2007
Initiated by the
Will County Historical Society, the Forest Preserve District of Will County, and the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, this group is a networking resource among heritage preservation groups throughout Will County.  The Alliance provides the opportunity for people meet each other, to share ideas, resources and support, to discuss issues and challenges, and to collaborate on county-wide programs and initiatives.

Click here to join
the Will County Heritage Alliance List Serv 

Next Meeting -  February 2011! Details forthcoming.
Questions?  Please contact Amy Munro at the Will County Land Use Department at 815-774-7902.

If your organization is interested in hosting a future meeting, please contact WCHA meeting coordinators: 
Dee DeGroh, dee@degroh.com and/or  Bill Molony, bbmolony@juno.com
. 

Download  List of WCHA Partners (PDF File)

For other heritage events around Will County, please scroll down and click on the link of the listed WCHA partnering agency.


Will County Heritage Alliance Coordinating Council for 2009

Meeting Coordinators: Dee DeGroh, dee@degroh.com and Bill Molony, bbmolony@juno.com
Program Coordinators:  Gretchen Sullivan and Sandy Vasko, hpc@willcountylanduse.com 
Publicity Coordinator: Amy Munro, amunro@willcountylanduse.com 

View
Will County Heritage Alliance Guiding Principles

WILL COUNTY HERITAGE ALLIANCE PARTNERS
Associations Historical Societies Museums

 Convention and Visitors Bureau

Public Agencies in
Will County

Canal Corridor Association
Mission: The Canal Corridor Association preserves history, protects nature and open space, and creates destinations where people can learn and have fun in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, from Lake Michigan in Chicago to the Illinois River in LaSalle/Peru.
Specialty area: Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor
Contact: 
Mark Harmon, Director
Address: 

Gaylord Building Historic Site
 200 W. 8th Street
Lockport, IL 60441
Phone: 815.588.1100
Fax: 815.588.1101
E-mail: mharmon@gaylordbuilding.org

Midewin Heritage Association
Mission: To promote the history of the land which today is known at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Specialty Area: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, former site of the Joliet Arsenal
Contact:

Gemma Guenther, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator

Address
P. O. Box 513
Wilmington, IL 60481
Email:
midewinheritage@gmail.com

Route 66 in Illinois
Mission: To preserve, educate, promote, and enjoy Historic Route 66.
Contact: 
John Weiss
Phone:
815- 458-6616
Fax: 
815-458-6626
E-mail:  weissinfo@il66authority.com

Mission: The NRHS is devoted to the ongoing research and preservation of American railroad history. The Blackhawk Chapter focuses on documenting the history of the railroads of Will County, southern Cook County and adjacent areas. 
Specialty area: Providing data and photographs to authors and researchers; presenting programs both for our own monthly membership meetings and for other interested groups.
Contact: Bill Molony, Blackhawk Chapter President
Address: 
2009 Boehme Street
Lockport, IL 60441-4611
Phone: 815-834-0835

Braidwood Area Historical Society
Mission: To record, preserve, display and to educate our citizens regarding local history.
Specialty Area: Local history
Contact: Dee deGroh, President 
Address: 

116 N. Lincoln St.
Braidwood, IL 60408
Phone: 815-458-6891
E-mail: dee@degroh.com

Frankfort Area Historical Society
Mission: The Society's major function will be to discover and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area.  It will collect and preserve printed material, manuscript material, and other museum material.  The Society will disseminate historical information to the public.
Specialty Area: Local history
Contact: Judy Herder, President 
Address: 

FAHS
P.O. Box 546
Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: 815-469-6541

Lockport Area Genealogical & Historical Society (LAGHS)
Mission: Our mission is to bring the people of the Lockport area together to preserve and share our family histories and our local heritage .
Specialty Area: To collect, preserve and promote an interest in the genealogy and history of the Lockport Area.
Contact:
 
Ron Lif, President  
(815) 838-3206
or

Candy Hrpcha
, Correspondence Secretary (815) 838-6236   
Address:
Lockport Area Genealogical & Historical Society (LAGHS)
c/o Des Plaines Valley Public Library
121 E. Eighth Street
Lockport, IL 60441
E-mail: info@lockporthistory.org

The Peotone Historical Society
Mission:
Preserving and/or restoring H. A. Rathje's Peotone Mill
Specialty area: The Peotone Mill
Contact:  
Tim Thompson, President Peotone Historical Society
Address:
 
PO Box 87
Peotone, IL 60468

Will County Historical Society
Mission: The Will County Historical Society is the storyteller of the history of the Illinois County of Will.  We have been entrusted by our constituents -  people and organizations who are interested in the history of Will County - to be good stewards of the County's history.
Specialty area: Will County
Contact:  
Sandy Vasko,
President
Address:
 
803 South State Street
Lockport, IL  60441
Phone: 815-838-5080 (museum/office)
Fax: 815-838-4547 
E-mail: info@WillCountyHistory.org

Isle a la Cache Museum
Specialty area: 18th Century Fur Trade
Contact:  
Harry Klinkhamer
, Museum Coordinator
Address:

501 E. 135th Street
Romeoville, IL 60446
Phone: 815-886-1467
Fax:
815-886-6803
E-mail: hklinkhamer@fpdwc.org

Joliet Area Historical Museum
Mission: Preserve and interpret the rich and culturally diverse history of the Joliet area.
Contact: 
Tony Contos, 
Executive Director, Interim
Address:

204 N. Ottawa Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: 815-723-5201
Fax: 815-723-9039
E-mail: 
info@jolietmuseum.org

Naper Settlement
Mission: Naper Settlement’s mission is to instill an appreciation of the past through the portrayal of community life based on the history of Naperville, Illinois.  Through preservation and education in a museum village setting, we seek to enrich the lives of a diverse audience of adults, families and children.
Specialty area:
Naper Settlement is a 13-acre outdoor history museum with 30 historic and ancillary site features. The town's rich history is preserved through the collection of artifact and archival materials that date from the 19th century through today. Tours, educational programs, changing and permanent exhibits, special events, and other outreach efforts help visitors connect with the past for a better today and tomorrow.  Please visit our website for further information on our many offerings.
Contact:  
Debbie Grinnell, Director of Preservation Services
Address: 
523 S. Webster Street
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: 630.420.6010
Fax: 630.305.4044
E-mail: grinnelld@naperville.il.us

Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
Mission: To promote economic development through tourism within the communities and counties along the National Heritage Corridor Region.
Specialty area: Promotion of Events, lodging, attractions, shopping, etc.
Contact:  
Mary Beth DeGrush, Vice President
Address

81 N. Chicago St.
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: 
800-926-2262
Fax: 815-727-2324
E-mail: marketing@hccvbil.com 
Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park
Address:
201 W. Jefferson at 
Bluffs St.
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815-724-3760
Fax: 815-740-2399
E-mail:
bipark@jolietcity.org


Forest Preserve District of Will County

www.fpdwc.org

Joliet Historic Preservation Commission
Mission: To identify and oversee Joliet historic landmarks, districts and sites
Specialty area: Local community television series on landmarks, specific workshops on preservation-related topics, design assistance in historic renovation of structures and assistance in research and landmark nomination process.
Contact:
Barb Newberg, Planner/Commission Secretary

Address:
City of Joliet Planning Dept.
150 W. Jefferson Street 
Joliet, Illinois 60432
Phone: 815/724-4052
Fax: 815/724-4056
E-mail: bnewberg@jolietcity.org


Pilcher Park Nature Center
Mission:  To educate children and adults abut the wonders of nature through exploration, discovery, and fun. 
Specialty area:  Nature Education
Address:  
2501 Highland Park Drive
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815-741-7277
Fax:  815-722-5317

Will County Historic Preservation Commission
Mission: The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) promotes and assists in the preservation of Will County's rural heritage through the identification, evaluation, and documentation of Will County's historic landmarks, and thereby increases and encourages public awareness of and appreciation for Will County's history and historic landscape.
Contact:  
Virginia Ferry, Chairwoman
Address:
58 E. Clinton St., Suite 500
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: 815-774-7902
E-mail:  hpc@willcountylanduse.com

Will County Land Use Department
Mission:
To protect and enhance the public health, safety and welfare by effective land use planning,
regulation, and enforcement.
Contact:  Amy Munro, Historic Preservation Manager
Address:
58 E. Clinton St., Suite 500
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: 815.727.8430
Fax: 815.774.3386
E-mail:  amunro@willcountylanduse.com