The Piatt County Museum is busy constructing their new building next to the Monticello Railway Museum.

The Piatt County Museum was able to purchase three acres of land from the Railway museum and is currently building an education center. Piatt County Museum's Director of Development Peg Bargone feels having the two museums close to each other will benefit both museums.

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Bargone says putting the two close together will also help attract new people to each museum. She hopes people will be interested in going to one museum, and then decide to go to the other since it's right there. She also sees the new location as a good thing, since there is a lot to do outside of the museums in that area.

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The new museum is being completely funded by members and donations. Bargone adds the museum gets no help from the state, and the entire museum is privately funded. She says the community has shown a lot of support.

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The museum will hold a fund raiser on Saturday, Sept. 8 with dinner and music. It will be the first time for people to see the inside of the new museum.

For more information on the museum, visit www.piattmuseum.org.