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Breaking the Prairie Museum

684 8th Street

Mendota, IL 61342

Breaking the Prairie Museum

815-539-3373

The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.

In 2002, the Mendota Museum & Historical Society—through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius—completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm & Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.

Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum & Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.

Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum & Historical Society Office.

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AARP Events for Mendota

AARP Events for Mendota

• Featured Event

  Movies for Grownups: 'Wicked' (Hodgkins, IL), 11/25/24

  Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. CT

  AMC Quarry Cinemas 14

  Hodgkins, IL

• Featured Event

  Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

  Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT

  Peoria Riverfront Museum

  Peoria, IL

• Featured Event

  A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker

  Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT

  AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA

  Online Event

View All AARP Events

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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
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							<span>Mendota</span>,
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												<span>61342</span>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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												<span>61342</span>
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										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
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							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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					<p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 6:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mendota</h2>
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					<p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 6:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">AMC Quarry Cinemas 14</p>
					<p class="loc">Hodgkins, IL</p>
					
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					<p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p>
					
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										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2>
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		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENDOTA-IL">Renew</a> or 
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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
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							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
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							<span>Mendota</span>,
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												<span>61342</span>
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										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
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View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]
Code Context
            <?php if (!$nowrapper):  // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">Breaking the Prairie Museum</h1></header>

		<div class="row">
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				<p>
					<div>
											<div>684 8th Street</div>
											<div>
							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
											</div>
					</div>
				</p>
								<div>
					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
								</div>
												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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		</div>


				<div class="module-spacer clearfix">
						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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    </form>
        
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    <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. 
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		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mendota</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mendota</h2>
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	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-illinois-hodgkins-free-screening-of-wicked-112524-in-person-b5nztrmmnpd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVIES-FOR-GROWNUPS-WICKED-HODGKINS-IL-112524">Movies for Grownups: 'Wicked' (Hodgkins, IL), 11/25/24</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 6:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">AMC Quarry Cinemas 14</p>
					<p class="loc">Hodgkins, IL</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-mfg-peoria-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-121024-in-person-g6n24cwbyx6.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FREE-SCREENING-OF-BEETLEJUICE-BEETLEJUICE">Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Peoria Riverfront Museum</p>
					<p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/mendota-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
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                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
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<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENDOTA-IL">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENDOTA-IL">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
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<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Illinois Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Illinois Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>

 
<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP<br />Illinois</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:ILAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ILAARP@aarp.org</a></li>
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/illinois/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Illinois</a></li>
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarp-illinois-contact-us/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-MENDOTA-IL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>


</ul>
</div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpillinoisjoy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>


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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
											<div>
							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
											</div>
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								<div>
					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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			</div>
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				<div class="module-spacer clearfix">
						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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    <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. 
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	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
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		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mendota</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mendota</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-illinois-hodgkins-free-screening-of-wicked-112524-in-person-b5nztrmmnpd.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-MOVIES-FOR-GROWNUPS-WICKED-HODGKINS-IL-112524">Movies for Grownups: 'Wicked' (Hodgkins, IL), 11/25/24</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Monday, Nov 25, 2024 at 6:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">AMC Quarry Cinemas 14</p>
					<p class="loc">Hodgkins, IL</p>
					
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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">Breaking the Prairie Museum</h1></header>

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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
											<div>
							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
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								<div>
					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
								</div>
												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
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							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
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										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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											<div>684 8th Street</div>
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							<span>Mendota</span>,
							<span>IL</span>
												<span>61342</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="http://www.farmmuseum.info/" target="_blank">Breaking the Prairie Museum</a>
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												<div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 815-539-3373</div>
				
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						<p style="text-align: justify;">The Breaking the Prairie Museum honors farm families, their machinery, and their livestock.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society&mdash;through funding donated by brothers Earl and Melvin Mathesius&mdash;completed the first structure at Breaking the Prairie Museum. The Mathesius Brothers' Barn replica barn is glass-walled on three sides for open viewing 24 hours per day, every day of the year. Inside, there is a rotating display of antique tractors, a Scheidenhelm &amp; Schaller buggy, and other farm equipment and tools. Outside, there is a rare Elgin-Hummer windmill from the mid-1800s that once stood on the farm of George Otterbach, as well as other farm implements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Adjacent to the barn is The Country Chapel, which was completed in 2004. The chapel was the dream of Dean Otterbach, a founding member and long-time volunteer of the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society. Inside is a restored pump organ that was originally manufactured in Mendota in the 1880s. Additionally, there is a stained glass window and a pulpit donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Special tours of the Mathesius Barn and Country Chapel can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Museum &amp; Historical Society Office.</p>		</div>
		

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include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118