The campaign creates the opportunity to bring more educational experiences to the community. Here are a few things we are planning.
The new floor plan creates additional exhibit spaces and moves the main gallery to the east side of the building, where the larger artifacts can be displayed. It will feature rotating thematic exhibits from the collection. Three smaller galleries will be curated to reflect the community’s interests, such as:
Gallery 1: The Military Tract and Life on the Prairie
An overview of the founding of McDonough County and life as a settler in 1830s Illinois. The story of General Macomb and the impact land grants had on the expansion of West Central Illinois.
Gallery 2: Community and its Changes
Topics include Lincoln’s Visit to Macomb, the Civil War, slavery, and its role in social injustices today. A look at labor history and the issues faced by the area’s working-class community. The story of leaders such as C. T. Vivian and Al Sears, and their role in breaking the color bearer and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.
Gallery 3: Agricultural History and Culture
Celebrating the family farm that is at the core of our region’s history and culture. This gallery includes a growing collection of oral histories from long-time family farmers. Featured artifacts included the locally-invented Brown Corn Planters and a Daisy Reaper.
- Small group workshops like learning how to make Grandma’s pie or how to pickle… anything.
- More live music and other arts programming from both local and regional artists.
- Hands-on programs for families with weekly drop-in Saturday morning activities. These include Tractor Saturdays and the Cabinet of Curiosities for a closer look at artifacts from the collection.
- Expanded film screenings and an annual short film festival. More guest lectures, conversations, and guest authors programs.
