Illinois Heritage

Nine months into the state's bicentennial year, the Illinois State Historical Society continues to make the commemoration as memorable as possible. So far this year we have placed or scheduled 71 Lincoln portraits in county courthouses around the state; eight historical marker dedications will be carried out between now and October 30; the Society's 2018 Centennial Awards will handed out on Saturday, November 3 at the newly restored Illinois Governor's Mansion, and our 2018 Illinois History Symposium is scheduled for December 3.

The Illinois Heritage magazine gives our members and friends a chance to share their deep passion for Prairie State history. This issue includes article from contributors all across the state: Herbert Russell from Carbondale; Kathleen Spaltro from Woodstock; Mark Flotow from Springfield; John Hallwas from Macomb; Reg Ankrom from Quincy; Will Shannon from Belleville; and Keith Sculle from Williamsville and Steve Leonard from Rochester. Each article will bring you closer to the essence of Illinois and, perhaps, stoke your own creative fires.

Thank you for reading Illinois Heritage. Your membership and gifts keep this organization vital and relevant. We cannot serve Illinois history without you. 

The Illinois Bicentennial is now entering its fifth month. We hope you and your historical society or museum are finding significant and creative ways to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary, not just for the year, but for the future. Visit us on our website (www.historyillinois.org) and tell us what your community has planned. We’ll do our best to help you get the word out. 

In this issue of Illinois Heritage we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial, meet forgotten playwright Charles Dazey, learn how amateur historians and genealogists can change history, and sit down to lunch with Sesquicentennial Church congregations.

Share your Heritage!