You’re Invited to Celebrate Our New Front Porch! Join us for a Sunday afternoon of connection, community, and celebration on Sunday, November 10th from 1:30 to 4:00 pm at the Western Illinois Museum! The new and improved Our Front Porch was built with teamwork, creating a special place where history, culture, and community come together,… Read More »Sunday on the Porch: A Celebration of What We’ve Accomplished

On Saturday, November 16th, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, the Western Illinois Museum welcomes Ben Petropoulos, Land Conservation Specialist with the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center and USDA, to Our Front Porch. This program will focus on the technical strategies behind prairie restoration in West Central Illinois and delve into what it… Read More »Join us for a conversation with Ben Petropoulos about the Prairie

Join the Western Illinois Museum for an evening of festive fun and unexpected musical delights during this year’s Dickens on the Square celebration! Families and visitors of all ages are invited to enjoy two reimagined musical performances and hands-on holiday activities. Kick off the evening at 6:30 pm with the Western Whackers. These talented students… Read More »Seasonal Sounds, Reimagined: Tuba Christmas and Western Whackers

The Western Illinois Museum, in partnership with the Western Illinois University School of Music and the Community Music School, invites you to an evening of festive cheer at Sounds of the Season: Songs and Stories on Friday, December 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. This family-friendly event celebrates the holiday season with music, storytelling, and… Read More »Sounds of the Season: Songs and Stories

As we look ahead to the coming year, the Museum Board invites you to take a peek at our accomplishments in 2024 and what’s coming next. Join us on Sunday, February 23rd from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. As what is quickly become a tradition, pie will be served. What’s in store for the afternoon? 👀 Explore… Read More »Annual Open House

The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to present Prairie Land, Prairie People, an exhibition of works by photographer Bruce Morton. The exhibit opens with a reception to meet the artists on Sunday, March 2, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM and will be on view through June 28, 2025. Co-curated by Paula Gillen and Dona Lantz,… Read More »Prairie Land, Prairie People Opening Reception

  On Sunday, March 23, at 1:30 PM, the Western Illinois Museum will present reenactor Laura Keyes in a living history portrayal of Lucy Pettengill, a station operator on the Underground Railroad. This engaging performance brings to life both the dangers and rewards that conductors and station operators faced while helping freedom seekers. Through storytelling… Read More »Lucy Pettengill, Station Operator on the Underground Railroad

The Western Illinois Museum is proud to collaborate with the Asian American Heritage Coalition (AAHC) to host a special community event that will mark the launch of the Asian American Heritage Coalition and its new podcast series. The event will be held on Saturday, March 29th, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Western… Read More »A Celebration of Our Region’s Asian American Voices