1923   
Johnson County Centennial Celebration

Johnson County’s centennial celebration prompted the display of relics and heirlooms in downtown store window displays.  The celebration and displays were so well received that the centennial committee requested a space for artifacts in the nearly completed Masonic Temple.

1931   
Alexander Hamilton Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution
began county museum

The D.A.R. accepted the responsibility to create a county museum.  The group was given a room in the southwest corner of the court house under the leadership of Georgia Schlosser.  During WWII, the room was needed, so the items were packed and stored in another locked room at the court house.

1963   
Museum moves to Suckow House.

Miss Clara Suckow donated her house at 150 W. Madison St. to be the new home of the Johnson County Museum.   At the time of the official opening on February 11th, only the first floor of the home was needed for the museum.

1964   
Museum expands.

By 1964, the museum had expanded to the second level of the Suckow House.  Ruth Hougham became the first curator of the museum collection.

1972   
New curator is appointed.   

Rachel Henry became the new curator and the museum is now open regularly on Thursday afternoons.

1980   
New additions to museum building.

The Johnson County Historical Society took over leadership of the museum and built a 40X40 foot addition on the back of the Suckow House.  In addition, Frank Mitchell donated an 1835 log home to the museum.  The cabin was moved to its new home on the museum property.

1984   
Expansion

The Sloan property next door to the Suckow House was purchased.  The Society made an apartment on the first floor, storage on the second and housed public records from the Court House on the third.

1987   
New Curator

Kay L. DeHart replaced Rachel Henry as museum curator.  The museum was now operating on a full time basis and the genealogy department expanded.

1988   
New faces and new places.

Mary Ann Plummer replaced Kay DeHart, who resigned due to illness, as curator.  Genealogy moved to the Sloan House, along with the staff offices.  Later that year, it was decided the museum would move all together.  The Historical Society, along with the County, purchased the former Masonic Temple at 135 North Main Street for $120,000.  A capital campaign was launched to renovate the building for museum use.

1989   
Packing the museum.

The Sloan House was sold, the exhibits closed and all the artifacts and records were moved back to the Suckow House to be packed for their journey to the new museum site.

1990   
First Director and renovation.        

Mary Ann Plummer is named the first Director of the Johnson County Museum.  Julie Cole is hired as new Curator.  Renovation begins with the installation of new lighting on the first floor and a new heating system. 

1991   
Moving

Throughout May and June, the genealogy department and artifacts were moved to the new building.

1992   
Log cabin and more renovation.

The log cabin was dismantled and moved to storage until it could be reconstructed on the new museum grounds.  Renovation continued with a new roof, an elevator, a wheel chair lift and the addition of air conditioning. 

1993   
Log cabin reassembled.

The log cabin was reassembled in the parking lot of the new museum.

1995   
New lighting.

The second and third floors of the museum get new lighting.

1997   
Ceiling collapses.

On January 20th, the ceiling of the third floor storage collapsed.  All artifacts had to be removed, photographed, cleaned and repaired.  An architect was hired to do a feasibility study about a further renovation of the museum.  The Historical Society and the County would share the cost.

2000   
Architect and new Curator are hired.

RQAW Architects were hired to do further study on a renovation.  In June, Julie Cole resigned as Curator.  Intern, Suzie Pruitt, assumed her duties.  Suzie resigned in October.

2001   
A new Curator.

Jill Hasprunar was hired as Curator in January.  Bids were opened to do a $1.5 million renovation to the museum.  The Historical Society and County agreed to share the cost.

2002   
Construction begins.

On January 14, construction began on a new renovation.  An elevator tower and new HVAC system were added to the building.

2003   
Clean up.

Staff and volunteers began cleaning the building and artifacts in June.  The genealogy department opened in August.

2004   
Director retires.

Mary Ann Plummer retired at the end of January.  Sarah Rogers began as Director in April.  The museum reopened in October, following the renovation, with all new exhibits.