Ratcliff Inn Museum - Carmi, IL
Posted by: YoSam.
N 38° 05.425 W 088° 09.557
16S E 398341 N 4216481
This building was erected in 1828 by James Ratcliff. Nicknamed "Old Beaver" because of his energy, he was a founder of Carmi (1816), an Inn-keeper, merchant, and postmaster, and White County's first clerk, recorder, and probate judge.
Waymark Code: WMV9K3
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 03/19/2017
Views: 0
County of museum: White County Location of museum: 206 E. Main St., Carmi Hours: By Appointment Restored: 1960
"The WCHS was founded in 1957, and established its first museum in Carmi when the Ratcliff Inn was saved from destruction in 1960. Abraham Lincoln stayed in the Inn in 1840, and its original owner served in many county offices from 1818 to 1848.
"The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency awarded the society a grant in 2001 to replace the heating system, add plate glass windows, and remove soft bricks that were thought to be wicking moisture into the first floor. It turned out that soft bricks were not the major cause of the building's moisture problems, but that the foot of dirt and rubble that had settled on the original stone floor of the Ratcliff basement was causing much of the problem. A channel was dug around the basement with tiling used to draw off wetness. The workers also found a lack of a proper vapor barrier on many interior surfaces of plaster covered bricks. Problems with moisture persist in the building. Lots has changed in Carmi since the Inn was constructed in 1828, including the depth of streets and sidewalks." ~ White County Historical Society
Theme: "The first floor of the museum contains one room with the parlor furniture of Mose and Carrie Day, donated by their daughter Vivian. James Ratcliff's bookcase sets off the front hallway, which has a number of plaques and pictures relating to the museum. The other downstairs room is being used for meetings and events. Upstairs the museum has many artifacts from the past, including Senator James Robinson's cloak, glassware from the Damrom House, firearms, quilts, fans, and a bedroom with rope bed." ~ White County Historical Society
Street Address: 206 E. Main St.,
Carmi, IL 62821
Food Court: no
Gift Shop: no
Hours of Operation: By Appointment
Cost: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Museum Size: Small
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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