[2] In 1856, seeking to capitalize on the drastic change to the cattle industry in Illinois, the Grand Prairie Bank opened a temporary branch in the new town.

Local pharmacist William Kuesink purchased the property in 1936 and moved in his drug store, which occupied the building until 1951.

It was then sold again and was rebranded as Heimlicher's Sundries, another drug store, which was the building's final commercial tenant.

The group successfully prevented the building's destruction by having it added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1975.

Later that year, the group secured a federal grant and a $50,000 low-interest loan to help pay for the project, which began in March 1982.

[4] Founded in 1972 and open for exhibition in 1974, the museum originally occupied the Wilber Mansion located at 907 W. University Ave. in Champaign, Illinois.

[6] The museum sold the mansion to a private buyer in 1997, and the proceeds were used to purchase the Cattle Bank building.