Exhibits in the Historic Upshur Museum in downtown Gilmer are seen in July 2023. (Michael Cavazos/Longview News-Journal File Photo)

GILMER — The Historic Upshur Museum is rooted in the past, but it’ll need more money and volunteers to stay open in the future.

Gwen Jewett, coordinator of the county’s historical museum, said declining membership and donations have strained the museum’s finances. The facility costs roughly $30,000 per year to operate, but revenue from membership dues and donations has been falling short of that, she said.

The museum will hold car shows in August and September to raise funds for operations.

“We have been struggling for a long time because of the membership,” Jewett said. “We’re just holding on.”

The museum opened in 1993, and many of its longtime supporters have died. On Monday, as Jewett flipped through the pages of the Gilmer Mirror newspaper, she said she reads the obituaries and often sees the museum has lost another longtime financial supporter.

The facility’s operational costs — ranging from utilities and insurance to maintenance and more — has increased with inflation, Jewett said. Museum officials try to spend as little as possible.

The museum is housed in Gilmer’s former post office, which was built in 1925.

“You can look around and see some things that need to be upgraded,” Jewett said Monday as she stood in the museum’s lobby.

The museum has money in its financial reserves, but that money should be used only in an emergency, she said.

With additional funding, Jewett said she would like to host more events and bring in new exhibits.

Museums across the nation are in a similar predicament: The facilities cost more than they once did to operate, and younger generations are less interested in them, The Art Newspaper reported in January.

Annual membership dues for the Historic Upshur Museum vary. An individual membership costs $40, and a family membership costs $50. The museum is a nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible, Jewett said.

People can purchase a membership at the museum or by visiting the museum’s website, historicupshurmuseum.com. On the home page, prospective members can scroll to the “Get Involved” tab, select “Membership,” download and fill out the membership form and mail it to the museum, 119 Simpson St. in Gilmer, TX 75644.

The museum also can be reached by calling (903) 843-5483 or emailing hum1925@etex.net.

Car shows planned

To raise funds for museum operations, the museum has hired RG Car Show Productions to host car shows Aug. 3 and Sept. 7.

The Aug. 3 show will take place in downtown Gilmer in front of the museum, 119 Simpson St. Vehicles can be registered for $20 each, and the show will have several categories: motorcycles, classic cars, street-rods, vehicles with unfinished restorations and more, said Ronnie Gorman, owner of RG Car Show Productions.

The show also will have a category for children to enter tricycles, bicycles and more, Gorman said. Children also will be able to vote on which vehicles in the overall show are their favorites.

“You don’t have to be 18 to do this,” Gorman said.

Between 80 and 90 awards will be presented during the show.

“It’s just great, great family fun time for everybody to come out, look at the hot rods and everything,” Gorman said.

The Sept. 7 show is set at the Gilmer Civic Center, 1218 U.S. 271 N. Gorman said he hopes to see 200 vehicles there. A 50-50 raffle will take place as well.

Businesses can become sponsors of the event and have their names put on T-shirts, trophies and more, Gorman said. Those sponsorships are tax-deductible.

Registration for both shows will take place 8 to 10 a.m. on the days of the events, and coffee and donuts will be available. Food trucks and vendors will be on site at both shows.

Vendors seeking to set up at the shows and businesses interested in becoming sponsors can contact RG Car Show Productions by calling (903) 253-3213.

Volunteers needed

The museum also needs volunteers to give tours, change exhibits, catalog items in the inventory and more, Jewett said. The museum has had about 350 visitors so far this year.

“When I have volunteers that come in, I find them something to do,” Jewett said.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It is also open by appointment.

Jewett said the museum serves an important role in preserving history.

“It’s the only history museum in our area that I know of, and it’s a way for the students, the young and the old to just learn about Upshur County history,” she said. “A lot of museums may or may not be closing, but I’m pretty sure they’re all struggling. But that’s the main thing is to keep the doors open.”

Want to join the museum or donate?

People can purchase a membership to the Historic Upshur Museum in Gilmer by visiting or by going to historicupshurmuseum.com.

On the home page, prospective members can scroll to the “Get Involved” tab, select “Membership,” download and fill out the membership form and mail it to the museum.

The museum’s mailing address is 119 Simpson St, Gilmer, TX 75644. It can be reached by calling (903) 843-5483 or emailing hum1925@etex.net.