Jacksonville Area Museum

06/02/2026

Don't have any plans yet this summer? Jacksonville has you covered!

Spend the day learning about Jacksonville's deep history with the Underground Railroad and support local museums along the way!

Here at the Jacksonville Area Museum, you can visit our Journey to Freedom exhibit through August 1st. This is an engaging exhibit highlighting the Underground Railroad throughout Illinois. As a reminder, you can visit us on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm as well as Sundays from 1pm to 4pm.

Woodlawn Farm was a station along the Underground Railroad in Morgan County. The property is open to the public for tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm through September.

The Jacksonville African American History Museum: is also located in a former Underground Railroad site. This is a great place to dig deeper into the history of the Underground Railroad and beyond. The museum will be open for tours starting June 6th and you may visit on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm through September.

06/01/2026

THIS MONTH IN JACKSONVILLE HISTORY In June 1994, General Grierson’s Liberty Days were first held in Community Park. Ron Gray coordinated the event for several years.

This history note is courtesy of the new book, "Past to Present: Jacksonville at 200" featuring stories, photos, and more from Jacksonville's 200th Anniversary. The book is available at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce on West Morton, near the Ferris Wheel. Get your copy today!

05/30/2026

Only two months left! 'Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad,' will be open to to the public through August 1, 2026.

Jacksonville had a number of participants to the Underground Railroad, and it's connections across the State of Illinois.

The Jacksonville Area Museum's newest installation highlights the courageous stories of freedom seekers and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them on the Underground Railroad in Illinois.

Learn from a series of selected stories of freedom seekers, conductors and communities in Illinois that were part of the journey to freedom on the Illinois Underground Railroad. Using photos, videos, maps, personal stories, and illustrations created specifically for the exhibit, visitors will learn the about the people and communities who took part in this hidden history.

In addition, the Jacksonville Area Museum will feature local stories to enhance the exhibit.

In conjunction, the Jacksonville Area Museum will also offer several free public programs:

- A roundtable discussion highlighting the process of preserving and sharing histories of the Underground Railroad featuring Dr. Brian Mitchell. This event will be hosted at Centenary United Methodist Church on June 19th at 6pm.

-“Walk with Heroes” Cemetery tour of UGRR Conductors with Chad Boehlke will be held on July 11 at 6 pm at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville. Mr Boehlke will offer a guided walking tour of the final resting place of the many Underground Railroad Conductors of Jacksonville.

'Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad' is presented in arrangement by The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, also known as Looking for Lincoln.
The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours: Wed & Sat 10-4, and Sundays 1-4.

The exhibit is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged.

05/27/2026

Hooray!

We will open for the season on June 6th 2026, 1-4 pm. Here is our new phone number: 1(217)370-2859.
Call for any questions or if you would like to schedule a private tour. We can’t wait to see you!

05/26/2026

Jacksonville had a number of participants to the Underground Railroad, and it's connections across the State of Illinois.

The Jacksonville Area Museum's newest installation highlights the courageous stories of freedom seekers and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them on the Underground Railroad in Illinois. 'Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad,' will be open to to the public through August 1, 2026.

Learn from a series of selected stories of freedom seekers, conductors and communities in Illinois that were part of the journey to freedom on the Illinois Underground Railroad. Using photos, videos, maps, personal stories, and illustrations created specifically for the exhibit, visitors will learn the about the people and communities who took part in this hidden history.

In addition, the Jacksonville Area Museum will feature local stories to enhance the exhibit.

In conjunction, the Jacksonville Area Museum will also offer several free public programs:

- A roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Brian Mitchell on June 19. Look for more information soon.

-“Walk with Heroes” Cemetery tour of UGRR Conductors with Chad Boehlke will be held on July 11 at 6 pm at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville. Mr Boehlke will offer a guided walking tour of the final resting place of the many Underground Railroad Conductors of Jacksonville.

'Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad' is presented in arrangement by The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, also known as Looking for Lincoln.
The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours: Wed & Sat 10-4, and Sundays 1-4.

The exhibit is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged.

05/24/2026

THIS DAY IN JACKSONVILLE HISTORY On May 24, 1992, U.S. Senator Paul Simon delivered the commencement address at MacMurray College.

This history note is courtesy of the new book, "Past to Present: Jacksonville at 200" featuring stories, photos, and more from Jacksonville's 200th Anniversary. The book is available at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce on West Morton, near the Ferris Wheel. Get your copy today!

05/22/2026

Was there a railroad, that ran underground to help slaves escape from the American southern states? No. But humorous depictions from the time (as seen in the attached graphic) are part of the stories to be discovered at the Jacksonville Area Museum.

The Jacksonville Area Museum's newest installation highlights the courageous stories of freedom seekers and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them on the Underground Railroad in Illinois. 'Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad,' will be open to to the public through August 1, 2026.

Learn from a series of selected stories of freedom seekers, conductors and communities in Illinois that were part of the journey to freedom on the Illinois Underground Railroad. Using photos, videos, maps, personal stories, and illustrations created specifically for the exhibit, visitors will learn the about the people and communities who took part in this hidden history.

In addition, the Jacksonville Area Museum will feature local stories to enhance the exhibit.

In conjunction, the Jacksonville Area Museum will also offer several free public programs:

- A roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Brian Mitchell on June 19. Look for more information soon.

-“Walk with Heroes” Cemetery tour of UGRR Conductors with Chad Boehlke will be held on July 11 at 6 pm at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville. Mr Boehlke will offer a guided walking tour of the final resting place of the many Underground Railroad Conductors of Jacksonville.

'Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad' is presented in arrangement by The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, also known as Looking for Lincoln.
The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours: Wed & Sat 10-4, and Sundays 1-4.

The exhibit is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged.

05/21/2026

THIS DAY IN JACKSONVILLE HISTORY On May 21, 2000, Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., was the commencement speaker at Illinois College.

Photo is of Lynn Whalen (left), staff at Illinois College, pictured with Coretta Scott King.

This history note is courtesy of the new book, "Past to Present: Jacksonville at 200" featuring stories, photos, and more from Jacksonville's 200th Anniversary. The book is available at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce on West Morton, near the Ferris Wheel. Get your copy today!

05/19/2026

THIS MONTH IN JACKSONVILLE HISTORY In May 1967, the Carnation Company announced plans to build a plant in Jacksonville.

Photo is of the plant under construction after the announcement. Today, the plant is operated by Nestle.

This history note is courtesy of the new book, "Past to Present: Jacksonville at 200" featuring stories, photos, and more from Jacksonville's 200th Anniversary. The book is available at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce on West Morton, near the Ferris Wheel. Get your copy today!