About The Wood River Heritage Council

Our History

In 1993, a group of interested Wood River citizens who desired to preserve the city's rich history, met with Lawanda Smith, who spearheaded this effort. The city of Wood River agreed to purchase the building at 40 West Ferguson as our museum. The work on the building began in 1995 as the group obtained their not-for-profit status and became the Wood River Heritage council, Inc. The WRHC leases the building from the city for $1.00 per year. The museum opened in 1997 with LaWanda Smith, wife of former Wood River mayor, Lon Smith, as the first director of the history museum. She wrote this a few years later: "Over the past few years, the Wood River Museum and Visitors Center has become a critical cornerstone of our community. We support education for those who would visit our area and desire additional knowledge of the history that makes Wood River unique."