Hometown Pride: 200 Years of Sangamon County

Sangamon Experience

New Digital Exhibit Coming March 22nd!

From eating at Maid-Rite, America’s first Drive-Thru in Springfield to attending the Cheap Thrills concert at The Mansion in Riverton in 1990. Each of us has a story to tell about our Hometown.

What is your favorite part of your hometown? We decided the best experts are you-Sangamon County, Illinois residents- people who cheered on the “Baby Birds,” rue I-55rush-hour traffic, who grew up learning about Abraham Lincoln in Illinois and have banded together to help each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sangamon Experience is asking the public to submit images to objects they think best represent their town. The parameters are broad: an object could be a person, a place, an institution, or an idea. We already have multiple submissions but we are continuing to build the exhibit. The University of Illinois at Springfield’s Archives, Sangamon Valley Collection at the Lincoln Library of Springfield, have submitted pieces for the exhibit. We are asking the public to add to the exhibit to tell the community-driven story of Sangamon County.

If you have a story you would like to share about your community in Sangamon County please email the Sangamon Experience at: sangamonexperience@uis.edu.