Lafayette History Museum

2023 brought a variety of new opportunities to the museum. 

We partnered with more local organizations than ever before, creating community events like Know Your Antiques, Artifact Show-and-Tell programs, film screenings, and more. We received major grants that will allow us to complete a comprehensive inventory of our collection, rehouse and digitize mining maps, and preserve historic textiles. We informed and participated in local conversations about pieces of our past that have shaped our present, such as Lafayette's founder, Mary Miller, and unmarked graves in the Potter's Field of Lafayette Cemetery. We redesigned our website to reflect our new branding and mission. In total, we welcomed nearly 2,700 visitors and attendees to museum exhibits, walking tours, and educational programs, including over 300 students from local schools. None of this would have been possible without your support.

In 2024, we are planning to update our existing exhibits with community input to tell a wide range of stories from Lafayette’s history, increase partnerships with arts and cultural organizations around Lafayette, and complete grant-funded projects, while also continuing to care for our collection, host programs, and welcome visitors into the museum space. Will you consider supporting our mission? Donations from individuals like you are critical to allowing the museum to remain open and serve the community, and any amount helps. 

What the Museum Contains

The museum contains a wealth of Lafayette history, from the early days of pioneer heritage, through the coal mining years, and into the present. Visitors will view a broad collection of artifacts displayed in our exhibits. A particular favorite is an aerial map that highlights the extent of the mining beneath our feet. Almost every resident who visits loves to pinpoint their house to see if it sits above a tunnel. 

Like most museums, only a small percentage of our collection is on display at one time. It is essential that we rotate the objects on exhibit for their preservation. A portion of our collection has been digitized and is available at the link below.

Past Perfect - Online Database for Lafayette History Museum