The Mission of the Illinois Rural Heritage museum is to tell the story of the fortitude and innovative spirit of the individuals and organizations who created the rural heritage of Illinois. The Mission of the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum is to educate the public about the rural heritage of Illinois in a manner that tells the life lessons of success. The Museum explains the ever changing story of rural life from different perspectives: agriculture, business, conservation, education, medicine, natural resources, technology and transportation. A critical element of the Museum’s Mission is to preserve and restore important items that would otherwise be lost with the passage of time.