McLean County Museum of History

Voices from the Past: Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk

This program is held on the first full week in October for school groups in grades 6 and up and is offered to the general public the weekend before and after. Actors portray real people buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery whose lives have been researched in the museum’s archives.

Groups tour the cemetery, moving from character to character to learn about cemetery symbolism and local history put in context with national events.

To register for this award-winning educational outreach program, look for details in your school mailbox in April each year.

Click here to see this year's cemetary walk schedule and program

Click here to see biographies of past Cemetary Walk characters.

Senior Reminiscence Programs

These programs provide mentally engaging social experiences for seniors in assisted communities, senior centers, and adult day service facilities. The programs stimulate cognition, communication, interaction and memory recall, while providing residents with the opportunity to share stories of their lives.

● Trailblazers: Women of McLean County
From pioneers to politicians, this slide show examines the lives of remarkable women from McLean County’s past. Participants are encouraged to share their memories of these women and the role they played in McLean County’s history.
●Journey Through the Great Depression
This program examines the impact the Great Depression had on McLean County and the steps local residents took to survive it. Participants are then asked to share their memories of the period.
● Photo Reminiscence
Participants examine large scale historic photographs of persons, places and events in McLean County and are asked to share their memories of what they see in each picture. Offering over 100 images of McLean County in the past, this program is our most popular and can be repeated several times.
● Indians of McLean County
Study the first inhabitants of Central Illinois through by examining objects of everyday life. The program explores traditional lifeways of prehistoric Indians and the Kickapoo — the last tribe to live in McLean County.
● The Well Dressed Man About Town
Participants learning about grooming habits and clothing used by men from 1920 to 1940 and share their memories about trends, habits and styles popular in their youth. The program features artifacts and advertisements of the period.
● Pioneer Life
Tools, toys, and equipment used by early settlers of McLean County are examined by participants. They are then asked to share their memories of like items that they used in their pasts.

To arrange for a Senior Reminscence outreach program, contact the McLean County Museum of History at 309/827-0428 and ask for the education department or email education@mchistory.org

History Careers Day Camp*

This 5-day summer camp for students entering grades 4-6 includes first hand experiences in the fields of history, art, architecture, environmental science, and archaeology. Three separate sessions are offered.

2009 Schedule:
    Session I: June 22, 23, 24, 25,26
    Sessin II: July 13,14,15,16,17
    Session III: July 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Registration Deadline:
June 5, 2009

Daily schedule: 8:30am to 4:00pm (drop-off begins at 8:00am, pick-up required by 4:00pm)

Cost: $75 per student. Participation is limited to 20 students per session. Students with an annual hosehold income less than $30,000 are eligible for free registration.

*Presented in partnership with the David Davis Mansion, Sugar Grove Nature Center and the Old House Society.

For more information contact the McLean County Museum of History at 309/827-0428 and ask for the education department or email education@mchistory.org.