The Herzstein Memorial Museum is one of two museums in Union County. Our story is as follows: 

This incredible building has been a cornerstone in our Community and County since 1919. It was originally the Episcopal Methodist Church, community center, and served as Clayton's Library for a time.  In 1972 the Union County Historical Society (UCHS) purchased this building thanks to a gift from the Chilcote Family.  The UCHS had this beautiful building, a plan and no additional funding.  In the mid 1980s Sue Richardson moved to Clayton and took a great interest in this museum. Sue, the UCHS President, and then Museum Director D. Ray Blakely worked tirelessly to make the "Clayton History Museum" a success. Wait, you're wondering how we became the Herzstein Memorial Museum? Well, Albert (Al) Herzstein who was living in Houston, TX happened to be a subscriber to the newspaper of his boyhood home. Reading tales of the museum and its plight, Al and his wife Ethel provided funding through the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation. With this donation structural renovations were underway, and this little dream became this hidden gem that we have today.  We hope if you have read this far, that you will add us to your next vacation.  It would be nearly impossible to accurately describe the treasures we hold.

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