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Welcome
to the Labor & Industry Museum
web site.
The
Labor & Industry Museum is
the only public institution devoted to the history of the labor and
industry of Belleville and southwestern Illinois. Belleville
was one of the most significant centers for the growth of Illinois
industry, which ranked third in the nation in the late 19th century.
The Museum's mission is to chronicle and interpret the area's rich
cultural heritage of labor and industry.
Belleville contributed significantly
to the industrial movement by establishing some of the earliest and
largest manufacturing establishments in the burgeoning United States.
The Labor & Industry Museum, is based in the Conrad
Bornman House on historic Church Street in Belleville. This 1837
building, rescued from the wrecking ball by the Belleville Historic
Preservation Commission, was a witness to the enormous development
of the 19th century industry. The building, which has undergone an
extensive renovation, houses permanent and special exhibition galleries,
as well as an educational center and archives.
The Museum's permanent collection includes:
