The Shabbona-Lee-Rollo Historical Museum began several years ago with a group of people interested in local history and preserving the area’s past. They began meeting regularly. The idea was to encompass the old school district #425, which included the towns of Shabbona, Shabbona Grove, Lee, Rollo, and the surrounding area. Since this area included DeKalb County and parts of Lee and LaSalle Counties, the collection of historical information spans a large area.
In September 1992 the museum opened its doors in the old bank building at 119 W. Comanche Street in Shabbona, Illinois. A 1200 sq. ft. addition was added to the back of the building in 2014 to provide a large work area for research and room for additional displays. While much of the research is done online, we continue to grow research collections which include obituaries, marriages, abstracts, family histories, biographies, and military, church, and school records.
The museum is currently open from 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9:00-11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. We close during the winter months.
Admission is free.