The Atlas Obscura Podcast Jerry’s Hat Museum (Classic)
Apr 7, 2026
Jerry Roth, a retired Forrest, Illinois resident who converted a chapel into a quirky local museum. The tour showcases thousands of hats stapled to church walls and a surprising basement of pens, matchbooks, and town memorabilia. Jerry explains renovating the building, collecting rules, community donations, and how the collection will stay with the local historical society.
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Retirement Hobby Became A Community Collection
- Jerry Roth began collecting baseball hats after retiring and moved back to Forrest, Illinois, where a casual hobby quickly ballooned into a community-driven collection.
- Neighbors started dropping off hats and his garage filled, prompting Jerry to find a nearby abandoned church to house the growing collection.
Bought A Dumped Church For A Dollar And Renovated It
- Jerry bought a derelict church for a dollar and, with family and volunteers, rebuilt it in six months to display his hats publicly.
- He replaced roof, drywall, furnace, windows and more, preserving the church's original interior while converting it into a museum space.
Architecture Turns Hats Into A Visual Sanctuary
- The church's architecture and stained glass make Jerry's caps feel almost consecrated, turning an odd collection into a striking visual experience.
- With no pews or partitions, the hat-lined walls and back cross create dramatic, museum-like immersion.