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Western Illinois Museum

Crisis, Resistance, and Hope: A Community Conversation

One Book One Community Festival program with University of Michigan staff, Paula Nas, Nicolas Custer, and Troy Rosencrants, who were directly involved in confronting the government when lead was discovered in Flint water.

Damani Phillips visits Our Front Porch

We welcome musician Damani Phillips to perform with the HAT Trio on Friday, April 5th, as part of the Jazz Series on the Museum’s indoor Our Front Porch.

The Goldenrods return to Our Front Porch

Join us in welcoming back the St. Louis-based band The Goldenrods, who weave their contemporary midwestern experiences into their original songs for a fresh take on country.

Students at the Western Illinois Museum using Primary Sources

Teaching With Primary Sources Workshop For Teachers

The Museum has received a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region program to offer workshops to area teachers.

Making Words Flow Like Water

Learn about and experience the power of the first-person narrative through verbal expression using storytelling, song, and poetry. Take a storytelling workshop, enjoy a performance with a seasoned storyteller, and hear local poets and storytellers share their work at an open mic.

Audio Connections: Telling a Community’s Story

Join us for a three-hour workshop with short, information-packed sessions that draw on the experience of local television, broadcast, and podcast professionals who will share their storytelling techniques.

Read our 2023 Annual Report

Our Annual Report outlines what we accomplished in 2023 and what our focus will be in the coming year.  

Our Front Porch: The Podcast

Listen to podcasts about life in the 1970s created with oral histories collected by our Summer Youth Program Assistance.

UPDATE: Renovate to Innovate

There’s a lot happening at the Museum! Check out an update on the improvements we’re making.

Renovate to Innovate

Learn more about how the Western Illinois Museum is transforming from a small history museum to a community hub that is responsive to its community’s needs.

Apple Butter Tradition

One of the harvest season’s favorite activities is making apple butter. Gerald White shares his family’s tradition in this short video.

Lincoln’s Visit to Macomb

Why was Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Macomb in 1858 historic?
Well… let’s get into it!