Attendance at the Joliet Area Historical Museum jumped 50 percent since 2008-09 fiscal year, according to the museum’s recently released annual report.

About 16,000 people visited the museum, located at 204 N. Ottawa St. in downtown Joliet, in 2008-09, compared to more than 24,000 people in the 2010-11 fiscal year. Executive Director Tony Contos said that the museum gets visitors from 37 countries and around the world interested in things such as historic Route 66, the Joliet prison as well as the original Dairy Queen site in Joliet.

“(The museum) continues to be gateway to the Joliet area for travelers from all parts of our nation and from around the world,” Contos wrote in the report.

The museum operates with an approximately $500,000 budget and receives most of its income from special events ($68,000), gift shop ($52,000) and program fees ($38,000), the report said. The rest of the revenue comes from a mix of admissions, contributions, membership dues and sponsorship.

Major donors who gave $5,000 or more include Harrah’s Joliet Casino and Hotel, NextMedia and the Chicago Community Foundation. Those who gave between $2,500 and $4,999 were Terry D’Arcy, of D’Arcy Motors, Empress Casino Joliet, ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery, city of Joliet, Kozol Bros., Inc., Midwest Generation as well as other private individuals.

Over the last year, the museum has also acquired several pieces, including a telephone from the Joliet Arsenal, 1897 Joliet prison souvenir booklet, Joliet Township High School gym uniform and items for the Mayor Arthur O. Janke collection.

For more information about the museum, visit www.jolietmuseum.org.