Join us for our Grand Reopening! Saturday 6/20 @ 2pm

The Macon County History Museum will be hosting our Grand Reopening this coming Saturday from noon until four, after nearly three months of renovations to the museum. Live entertainment begins at 2, when Tom Taylor will play his homemade cigar box guitars and speak about how he designs and makes them. Cookies and refreshments will be provided. Hope to see you there!

Attention!

We have extended our renovation project at the museum to include painting more areas and tearing up old carpet to refinish hardwood flooring. We now have more usable wall space because of the new Homasote panels that have been installed, and will be able to display more photos/items from our archive room. This process will take time, and in order to accommodate the further renovations we will remain closed through the month of March. If you have any questions feel free to contact the museum at 217-422-4919, or by email at info@mchsdecatur.org. I am not in my office often during this process, but leave a message and I will return your call. Thank you for your patience, we look forward to seeing you when the museum reopens.

Native Americans of Central Illinois - Presentation by Joel Hendricks

On Saturday, October 4, the Macon County History Museum will host guest speaker Mr. Joel E. Hendricks of Clinton, IL. Mr. Hendricks is a student of Native American history and art. He will be presenting on Native Americans in Central Illinois from the 1830s up to the Civil War. Topics discussed will include agriculture, their removal, and how some became involved in the Civil War.  Mr. Hendricks will appear in prairie clothing, Fox Indian style.  The program will be interactive and hold a section  that welcomes questions and discussion. Hendricks is not of Native American decent but has thoroughly studied the culture, values, and styles commonly found in Native American traditions.

Illinois Road Show was a success!

Hey there MCHM Fans!

The turn out of the MCHM Decatur stop for the Illinois Road Show turned out great. We are so pleased that we were chosen to be the feature for central Illinois as well as have the opportunity to really support history and Illinois tourism.  We would like to thank everyone who came out to show their support!

Below is a gallery of images from the event, please feel free to browse.  Thank You!

Illinois Road Show

Come out tomorrow morning at 10am to the MCHM Complex and tour with the Illinois Road Show! See the Mayor and other political figures talk about Decatur and Macon County while we give exclusive tours of the Abe Lincoln Courthouse, Log Home, and Schoolhouse.

Are you a history fan?

Then don't miss this opportunity to experience something wonderful!

Wednesday July 30th at 10am.

-MCHM Managment

Steamboat Stories - Mississippi and it's tributaries

July - 26 @ 1:30pm

Guest speaker Don Chamberlain will be at the MCHM Complex on July 26th to speak about the Mississippi river, its tributaries, and an extensive look at the history of steamboats.

Don was born and educated in Decatur IL.  After earning his Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees from Michigan State University he taught high school biology.

Don has had several articles published about wildlife photography. In recent years Don has turned his attention to the American Civil War.  He has completed six Road Scholar programs on Civil War topics and studied and visited many Civil War Battlefields and Museums.

In 2009 and 2010 Don visited Steamboat Museum sites and rode steamboats along the river systems.

This program will discuss the first steamboats in the West, Abraham Lincoln's association with steamboats, and the Sultana Incident which is to be considered the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. History.

Call us for more info!

(217) 422.4919

info@mchsdecatur.org

5580 North Fork Rd. Decatur IL 62521