Wise County Historical Society, Inc.

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WISE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

Wise County Historical Society, Inc.


The Wise County Historical Society, Inc., owns the grounds which housed the Wise County Heritage Museum.  Our main focus is the educate and preserve Texas and local history.  Since the devastating fire that destroyed the Wise County Heritage Museum in March 2023, our new focus is to reclaim and restore what we can from the ruins of the Museum and restore the building so that we may once again present a substantial place to  house our local history.

To do that, we must raise funds for the restoration and operation of the building and procure historical contents. We need your help!  Please consider a donation to help us in our endeavors.

The Wise County Historical Society, Inc. is governed by Trustees and Officers, and  employs the necessary staff members. Membership is open to the public.

Click Here To Download Membership Form

The group meets monthly (excluding August and December) on the 4th Thursday at noon for a luncheon meeting.  We used to meet at the Museum, but meeting places will be announced via the Wise County Messenger update and on our Facebook and Instagram pages. (In November, the meeting date is the 3rd Thursday to avoid conflict with Thanksgiving.) The meetings focus on various programs of historical interest.

The group makes scheduled tours of historical sites in the county as well. Volunteers in the group assist genealogical researchers utilizing our Archive collections. The proceeds from fees charged for their research goes to the museum restoration project.

Membership is $20 per year per person. A lifetime membership is $150 per person. A Business Sponsorship is also available for $250 per year. Members receive:
• Free admission to the research room and electronic archives
• Receive our “Wise History News” Monthly Newsletter

To join, complete the application and send a check or money order with your complete name and address to:
Click Here To Download Membership Form  

Wise County Historical Society, Inc.
Mailing: 1602 S. Trinity St.
Office Address:  114 E. Main St. Decatur, TX 76234    

Trustees

  • Robert Henley
  • Dana Brooks
  • Cecily Pegues

President

  • Mary Hilliard, President

Vice President

  • John Misner

Secretary

  • Donna Weeden

Treasurer

  • Cecily Pegues

Parliamentarian

  • Steven Hilliard

Historian

  • Karen Henley

Help us preserve local history. DONATE Members are the core of the Wise County Historical Society. For only $20 a year you can become a member and help us keep local history alive. You'll also receive our monthly newsletter, early notice of events, and other benefits! JOIN As a nonprofit organization, we primarily rely on donations from individuals and businesses. Any donation, large or small, is appreciated and will be used to help us preserve history and educate the community about our shared past. VOLUNTEER Our volunteers are what keep us going. We are always looking for people willing to help with a variety of tasks, including lawn care, office filing, staffing events, and many other things. If you would like to help out please reach out by clicking below. DONATE MEMBERSHIP VOLUNTEER We can't do it alone. With the tragic loss of the Wise County Heritage Museum building in 2023, we need your help more than ever. We continue to move forward and are working to restore the site to house important local artifacts and historical documents. Fortunately, there are many ways you can support us in this effort.