About Us :

The Gilbert Historical Society was organized in early 1960 with the goal of "Preserving the Past for the Future." Collections of pictures, documents and artifacts relating to the history of the community were preserved with the hope that a history of the area would be written and a historical center would be developed. In 1977, the old elementary school at Gilbert and Elliot Roads was abandoned for classroom use. This seemed to be the ideal location for the Museum.

In 1979, the Gilbert Historical Society was incorporated as a non-profit corporation. In June 1980, the school building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The old elementary school building has been a Gilbert landmark for more than 90 years, preserving an element of life dear to the community. The Society owns the building thanks to the generosity of Otto and Edna Neely and on May 15, 1982, the Gilbert Historical Museum opened to the public.

Gilbert Historical Museum holds thousands of artifacts, photographs, oral histories and archives that chronicle Gilbert's rich history.