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Bicentennial Celebration – February

Oscar Stanton De Priest

Not only is February the second month of the Illinois bicentennial (1818-2018), it’s also Black History Month! To celebrate, we’re bringing you 28 days of trivia, quotes, fun facts, and more about the lives and legacies of African Americans in Illinois history. You can follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our blog.

Pictured above is Chicagoan Oscar Stanton De Priest, the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century.

Want to learn more about African American history in the Prairie State? Come visit us, give us a call, or send us an email or message! We’d love to help.… Read More

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Lincoln’s Farewell Address

Train depot in Springfield

This blog post is a part of our bicentennial celebration. During the month of January, we’re taking a closer look at one of Illinois’s iconic residents: Abraham Lincoln.

On a rainy February morning in 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln gave his last speech in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln arrived at the Great Western Railroad Depot in the early morning for his departure to Washington D.C. There he shook hands with those waiting inside. Shortly before 8:00 AM, he walked through a crowd out to his train car and addressed them for the last time. His speech was impromptu and rather short, but thoroughly expressed his sadness at having to leave the people of Springfield.… Read More

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#SmallTownSaturday – Galena, IL

View of the Galena River

*Originally posted on August 12, 2017*

This week we’re traveling to the hilly northwest corner of Illinois! Today’s #SmallTownSaturday is Galena, IL (population 3,255).

Although the official town of Galena was organized in 1826, Native American tribes had lived in the region for hundreds of years prior to the creation of the city, mining the natural lead found around the area. In fact, the town name stems from galena, the term for the natural form of lead sulphide.

As settlers came to the area to make their fortunes mining the natural minerals in and around Galena, the town attracted some important figures in U.S.… Read More

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Illinois Bicentennial

200 - Illinois Bicentennial

*Originally posted on December 19, 2017*

In 2018, Illinois will celebrate 200 years of statehood! For the bicentennial, the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections will kick off a year-long celebration of the Prairie State’s fascinating history.

Starting in January, we will focus on a different theme in Illinois history each month. Themes will include: women in Illinois, stories of Civil War soldiers from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, LGBTQ+ history in Illinois, Illinois colleges, crime and criminals, sports, and others. Follow along on our social media platforms to learn more about these and other topics in Illinois history.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illinoisIHLC/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illinoisihlc/?hl=en… Read More