De Moulin Museum — Attraction in Greenville

DeMoulin Museum in Greenville is one of the most special, unique places I've ever been (And I've visited a lot of small, small town museums). The museum preserves the memorabilia and products manufactured for over a hundred years by the DeMoulin Bros factory in town. It honors the employees' memories and stories. They started out making wacky popular initiation devices for fraternal lodge organizations and ended up designing and sewing costumes and uniforms for the same plus marching bands and graduation regalia. And the factory is still going strong with its band uniform division, a big town employer!

At the museum, I particularly like the turn of the last century Photography (the lead DeMoulin brother Ed actually invented some camera tricks!), the family history stories, and the unusual factory office memos and communications produced among the more usual day-to-day business of manufacturing and marketing. Lodges were very appreciative of the products and were interested in having the most crazy and absurd devices to attract membership.

This brings us to THE GOATS! Now, I've never myself ridden Winkadink the goat (and admitting this publicly may summon my doom), but judging by the action photographs of happy riders, it's great fun combined with minimal danger. The DeMoulin Museum is attempting to collect a specimen of each of the goats that were sold and the collection is so close to completion now. Un-restored Ferris Wheel goat greets you at the "lodge room" and his friends can be found farther inside with collapsing chairs and squirting boxes. Get your picture taken as part of a catalog page or riding the...

The DeMoulin Museum is a quirky and fun museum in Greenville, IL. The museum tells the history of the local DeMoulin factory: a business that has been in business for over a century and is still one of the largest local employers. The story of the company is truly a unique story that could only have happened in America. The business became successful and such a local powerhouse because of the quirky and unique lodge initiation devices the DeMoulins made. You really have to see some of this stuff to believe it. The company also made band uniforms and that is all they make now and are one of the largest manufacturers of band uniforms in the country. The DeMoulin Museum displays these, too.

The museum has a volunteer staff and is open for special tours. You can tour it on your own during normal hours, but if you want a special touch, call ahead so you can take a tour with the curator who'll fill you in on all sorts of interesting tidbits. The museum recently moved locations and now resides in an old church that has added to the history of the museum. If you're ever in Greenville, IL, check the...

My husband and I enjoyed this museum with a special tour. The curator was very nice and informative. The history of the uniforms and regalia was fascinating. Photos along with the artifacts give a great deal of history. If you like marching band uniforms, you will like the collection. The earliest uniform is from 1900's or a bit earlier. De Moulin made the band uniforms for Atlanta Olympics, very nice work. Facilities are ADA equipped and very clean. Bring your family for...