Project XV Museum

10/14/2026

It was ONLY 4 years ago today that our concrete floors were poured!!!
Before this, the floors had been brick and dirt. It took some AMAZING volunteers with countless hours of blood, sweat, tears, laughter, & a big dream to get the space ready for that concrete.

And today, only 4 years later, we have a powerful, inspiring museum.

We are excited to share another big dream with you!!!!
The museum has been open to the public on Mondays. Starting this Sunday, October 18th, we will also be open on Sundays from 12-4!! We hope this will give you more opportunities to visit!!

10/12/2026

🌎 Honoring Indigenous Peoples Day

Today, Project XV Museum honors the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home since time immemorial. We recognize their rich cultures, traditions, knowledge, and contributions, as well as the resilience of Indigenous communities who continue to shape our nation today.

History is more than dates and names in a textbook. It is the stories of people, communities, and cultures whose experiences deserve to be remembered, respected, and shared. On this Indigenous Peoples Day, we acknowledge the histories that have too often been overlooked and reaffirm the importance of listening to Indigenous voices.

At Project XV Museum, we believe that understanding our nation’s history means making space for all the stories that have shaped it.

Today, and every day, we honor Indigenous peoples, past and present. ❤️

10/06/2026

10/05/2026

Our board member John had such a great time giving a tour this evening to a group from Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta chapter. What a fantastic group!
Interested in visiting Project XV Museum? We are open on Mondays from 12-4, and by appointment - email [email protected] for more information.

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

📣 HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT ‼️ Due to rain, the outdoor venue hosting Them Coulee Boys farewell concert on October 1 has been moved inside to The Legacy Building!!

That means— if you’re seeing this post, YOU ARE INVITED! Make a donation at the door to Project XV Museum and you’re in!
🍻 🎵 🕺🏻 Three Bands, cash bar, once in a lifetime party! 🎉

Thursday, October 1
Doors open at 5:00pm
1 W Front St El Paso, Illinois
Venue is ADA accessible

09/23/2026

We love partnering with Landmarks Illinois!!

Project XV Museum is located in El Paso’s historic Legacy Building, constructed between 1872 and 1874. The building was once home to a barber shop owned by David Strother, the first Black man to cast a ballot in Illinois following the passage of the 15th Amendment.

The preservation of the building has been supported by Landmarks Illinois’ Preservation Heritage Fund. Grant funding has assisted essential repairs, including electrical work, window replacement, flooring, trim and weatherization. The museum now shares Strother’s story and the history of voting rights in Illinois with visitors.

In an exciting update, WGLT reported that recent ground-penetrating radar research at Evergreen Cemetery has provided new evidence about the possible burial site of Strother and his family, more than 120 years after his death.

Have a historic place or preservation project in your community? Learn more about the Preservation Heritage Fund and apply by October 1 https://ow.ly/Bgbn50ZQO5s

09/17/2026

More than 120 years after his death, local historians finally feel confident of the burial spot for the first Black man to vote in Illinois.

A reddish granite headstone sits in a quiet plot near the back of El Paso’s Evergreen Cemetery. It proudly bears the name David A Strother.

“He voted on Monday, April 4, 1870 in an El Paso City election,” the stone reads. “The first Negro ballot ever cast as a result of the fifteenth amendment.”

The El Paso American Legion Post 59 erected that stone in 1954 as part of El Paso’s centennial celebration. Strother’s obituary and cemetery records claim he was buried there along with his brother, mother and wife. However, there were no original headstones for any of them.

Barb Lancaster with the Project XV voting rights museum in El Paso has wondered for a long time if Strother and his family are resting in that plot.

Link to full story in comments.

09/15/2026

Today is Voter Registration Day!!
Make sure you are registered & make your voice heard!