The Gilbert Historical Museum has been recording the town of Gilbert’s
rich history for generations. Our
staff and Board of Directors continue to work hard on developing and preserving our museum’s legacy for generations to come; why not bookmark
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Gilbert Museum – a rich history of its own
Gilbert’s ‘new’ school was built at the southwest corner of Elliot and Gilbert Roads in 1913; the ‘Alamo’, as the building was nicknamed, housed Gilbert Elementary School for more than 60 years before it was abandoned for classroom use in 1977.
In the early 1960s citizens wishing to preserve Gilbert’s history began gathering artifacts and storing them for the future. In the 1970s they organized with the goal of “Preserving the Past for the Future”.
Preserving a Gilbert landmark
When the school closed, the old building seemed to be the ideal location for the Gilbert Historical Museum. In 1979 the Gilbert Historical Society was incorporated as a non-profit corporation, and in June 1980 the school building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The old elementary school building had been a Gilbert landmark for generations, and preserving an element of life dear to the community as well as providing a home for the town’s rich history seemed a perfect match. On May 15, 1982 the building reopened its doors to the public as the Gilbert Historical Museum; the Society owns the building thanks to the generosity of Otto and Edna Neely.
Close your eyes and imagine
As you stroll around the old halls and classrooms listening to the old floorboards creak, close your eyes for a moment and picture the generations of children who sat, learned and played in these rooms over the years. If you listen carefully, you might hear footsteps and voices even though you appear to have the place to yourself... yes, that’s right...
we think the old building may be haunted!
Mission and Vision
The vision of the Gilbert Historical Society will be a vibrant cornerstone of the Heritage District, linking our rich legacy of the past to contemporary life and a vision of the future.
Our mission is to serve as a trustee of our historical legacy and as a catalyst for shaping the future. We will accomplish this by fostering learning and research with a commitment to preservation; engaging the community with opportunities to understand past choices, present circumstances and future possibilities; and strengthening bonds within the community and facilitating solutions to common problems through leadership and advocacy. Your support enables us to continue to preserve and to better care for our collection of artifacts and documenting the history of Gilbert and the surrounding area.