Joliet Historical Museum Faces $250,000 City Council Vote -Finally

JOLIET, IL — Two months after Joliet Patch published a story headlined "Scandalous Accusations Against Joliet Area Historical Museum," the Joliet City Council is now ready to approve $250,000 in city funds for the downtown museum.

"It is recommended that this resolution and grant agreement be approved," wrote new City Manager Beth Beatty in her City Council memo.

A vote on the funding will take place at Tuesday night's regular City Council meeting.

According to the proposed agreement written up by city of Joliet staff, the grant will be used for the following purposes during 2024:

• $25,000 – Regularly scheduled public events and educational programs at the Museum, including the Concert series at the Museum Rooftop Terrace and/or Auditorium; Historic Happy Hour Program Series and also the Second Sunday History Program.

• $125,000 – Administration of public operation for tours, program, and special events at the Old Joliet, Prison Historic Site at 1125 Collins Street on a seasonal basis, approximately Marc through November.
• $100,000 – Administration of public operation for tours, program, and special events at the Joliet Area Museum City Center Campus at 204 N Ottawa St, Joliet IL and Union Depot Tower Rail Museum at 100 E Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL. Curatorial functions including regularly scheduled exhibits, physical storage and preservation of artifacts of publicly assessable research files. Identification, application and administration of grants from State, Federal, and Private sources.

The city's proposed agreement indicates "The total amount of the grant shall not exceed $250,000 for calendar year 2024."

In early December, Joliet Patch reported that three people who were involved with past events at the Joliet Area Historical Museum and the Old Joliet Prison, Mary Beth Gannon, plus Dan Philip and Kara Philip, addressed the Joliet City Council, making disparaging remarks about the museum and its leadership team and urging drastic leadership changes.

As a result of that meeting, the Joliet City Council voted 5-4 to delay making its decision on whether to give the Joliet Area Historical Museum its annual allotment of $250,000 until February.

Related Patch coverage:

Scandalous Accusations Against Joliet Area Historical Museum

World's 1st Dairy Queen In Joliet Acquired By Historical Museum

Molly Zelko: My Thoughts On Joliet's True-Crime Podcast