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National Registry of Historic Places

A message from the Effingham County Museum's President, Delaine Donaldson 

                                                                                        

In the Effingham County Museum’s Gallery 5, commonly known as “The Train Room,” one of the scenes depicted is that of a Kickapoo Village.  Prior to white settlers moving into what became Effingham County, the residents were the Kickapoo people.  Visitors often want to know more about them.

On Monday, October 2, 2023, at 6:00 PM on the second floor of the Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum, as the result of  a partnership between The Effingham County Museum and the Effingham Public Library, there will be an opportunity to have questions about the tribe answered through a special presentation,

“Unconquerable: Photos and History of the Kickapoo Indians.” 

The Kickapoos were a fiercely independent people, who inhabited this part of Central Illinois when the first Euro-American settlers arrived in the early 1820s. This presentation will cover their movements across the prairie, their lifeways, their interactions with early settlers, and their forced removal to reservations west of the Mississippi River.

This presentation will also include rare 1906 photographs of Kickapoo living in Brown County, Kansas. These photographs were commissioned by Milo Custer, an early curator of the McLean County Historical Society. Bill Kemp of the McLean County Historical Society is the presenter.  He has served as Librarian/Archivist for the McLean County Museum of History since 2003. In December 2005, he began penning a local history column published in each Sunday’s Pantagraph. This “Page from Our Past” column quickly gained popularity and garnered attention for the Museum. The Effingham Public Library and Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum have partnered to bring local history programs to Effingham. Effingham Public Library Director, Amanda McKay says, “The Museum is right across the street from the Library, so it makes a lot of sense for us to partner and provide local history programs. We have heard from many in the community who have been asking for more. We are delighted to partner with the Museum and bring programs like this one to our community.”

To register or to learn more about this free library program and other library programs, go online to effinghamlibrary.org, email info@effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464 x. 1.

Future programming at the Museum include:  

November 2- Native American artifacts program with Bob Hammel, Site Superintendent of Eldon Hazlet State park at the Carlyle Lake

December 2- FACE Orchestra Concert

December 3- Christmas open house

December 14- Illinois in the Civil War-presenter Tom Emery

 

Latest Updates

Our Purpose

What is special about the Courthouse Museum

By JANE RIES

Upcoming Presentation October 2, 2023

The current 2023 Partnership(Effingham County Museum and Effingham Public Library) lecture series begins on October 2, 2023.   

History Matters! Vol 9 Issue 3

Click the link below to download and read the latest news from the Effingham County Museum.

Hours & Location

100 E. Jefferson Ave.,
Effingham, IL 62401

Daytime Hours:
(January-February)- By appointment only and some special evening hours, TBA
Phone: 217.240.2471 to leave a message

(March through December)
Tuesday and Saturday 10 a.m-2 p.m.

Evening Hours:
6:00-7:00 p.m. on night of lecture series, November-March
Other times by appointment: Call (217)240-2471 to leave a message

ECCCMA Meeting Schedule

Board Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the court-house first floor courtroom. For information contact Delaine Donaldson, President at: delainedonaldson@mchsi.com.

General Membership Meetings are held once a month of the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the court-house first floor courtroom.

MISSON STATEMENT
Our MISSION is to preserve our Historic Register structure, to collect artifacts from county history, and to use them to educate our local and external communities, while immersed in the broader context of American history.

VISION STATEMENT
Our VISION is that the 1872 Effingham County Courthouse remains as an architectural gem that instills a sense of community pride and provides a venue to
educate and showcase the history, art, and transportation of Effingham County.

Get Involved

On November 11, 2012, the Museum opened its doors to the public. Currently there are exhibits on the first floor and the second floor. On the second floor there is exhibit space as well as room for lectures and other types of public gatherings.