The Donald E. Stephens Museum was founded by the person it was named after, Donald E. Stephens, in 1956. As the Mayor of the town, he was considered as a giant man in terms of his political leadership and entrepreneurial vision. He is also known for the appreciation of the beauty of MI Hummel figurines and ANRI woodcarvings.

In the 1960?s, Mayor Stephens discovered the MI Hummels when he traveled to Europe with his son. It was there that he became a collector. The Mayor?s fascination with the art grew while he took on the challenge of acquiring the rare pieces. This includes the International Collection and Little Velma. Mayor Stephens donated his private collection of MI Hummel figurines to the Village of Rosemont in 1984.

Today, the Museum features the largest public display of MU Hummels in the world. Through it, the Mayor is able to share his love for the figurines as millions of local, national, and international visitors get to view the collection. It has achieved the goal of making the collection well preserved, intact, and growing.