The Staley Museum in Decatur, Illinois
The Staley Museum opened its doors to the public during the summer of 2015. We are excited be a full-fledged member of our community. Here you will find updates and news about the museum and exciting events going on.
The Staley Museum and this web site are both works in progress. We encourage visitors to continue to check back with us and see how we are progressing. We would also like to encourage visitors to the site to share any stories or information they may have regarding Staley history.
Photos, documents, articles and memorabilia are all welcome and appreciated. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Staley museum may contact us through via the Artifact Donation Form found on this site. Also, for anyone in our area who wishes to be a Volunteer at the museum and offer their time and/or expertise, please go to the Volunteer Form and fill out your information so that we may contact you personally. We invite you to Contact Us.
Visit the Staley Museum
The Staley Museum is open year-round
Tuesday – Saturday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Last Sunday of the month (March – November): 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
Admission
Adults: $3
17 & under: $1
Location
361 N. College Street
Decatur, IL
The Staley Story
A.E. Staley was a big man with big dreams and had the determination to make those dreams a reality. Although he did not arrive on the scene until the 1900’s, his impact of Decatur was such that he is counted as one of the founding fathers. The largeness of his dreams and of his civic minded generosity has contributed in major ways to the city we know today.
It was A.E.’s pioneering vision in the area of soy beans, both the cultivation and processing, that gave Decatur the name “Soy Bean Capitol of the World.”
In the period of one decade, 1920-1930, A.E. Staley made significant contributions to the community of Decatur, being the driving force behind the creation of Lake Decatur, the Staley viaduct, the Staley Office Building, and the formation of the Decatur Staleys football club, later to become the Chicago Bears.
The story of A.E. Staley is one in which the city of Decatur has the right to feel great pride. It is a story which forms a major part in the industrial and agricultural history of central Illinois. We look forward to sharing that pride and history as we work toward the opening of the Staley Museum.
The Staley Office Building: Inaugurated in April, 1930
Also known as “The Castle in the Cornfields”
Photo courtesy of the Hieronymus Mueller Museum
The Staley Office Building: Inaugurated in April, 1930
Also known as “The Castle in the Cornfields”
Photo courtesy of the Hieronymus Mueller Museum
National Volunteer Week
The Staley Museum Volunteer Corps:
A Big Shout Out to our museum volunteers.
Historic Sites could never do all the work they do without the helping hands of Volunteers. Many of our volunteers are retired “Staley” ( T & L / Primient) employees, while others came to volunteer simply out of a love for local history.
Whatever their motivation, they came to be a part of our team, and the museum is forever grateful for all they do. They bring to the museum their helping hands, their skills and knowledge, their enthusiasm and best of all, their smiling faces. A Big Thank You to each and every one of you!
Some members were not present for the photo.. our gratitude to the whole corps!
This week marks the start of National Volunteer Week and we'd like to take some time to thank our crew (both past and present) of amazing volunteers who take time out of their schedule to help us here at the museum!
We may not have a picture of every volunteer, but every volunteer's hard work is recognized and appreciated!
THANK YOU!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
What a lovely day for our Retiree Social! We're glad so many of you could visit!
Our wonderful group of volunteers did an amazing job helping us plan and organize this year's event and we couldn't have done it without them!
We'd also like to say a special thank you to the multiple local businesses who donated to the event this year. Thank you!
Decatur Family YMCA
Bold Machine
The FourNine
Krekel's Custard Mt.Zion
Diamond's
Decatur Park District
The Staley Credit Union
The Tribune
The Avon
Last, but not least, we'd also like to thank Diana McPheeters for the very tasty and beautiful cake!
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you all for a great event! It was so nicely done.
Very nice event! Thank you!
It will always be Staley
Dorothy Crist keeps the cardboard flowing on a Staley packaging line in 1944.
Photo: H&R
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Loved to watch this packaging process. Very cool and we had hundreds of private labels in addition to Staley Cream Corn Starch. Art Mense was the package line Foreman.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Great people!!!