DeKalb County History Center

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DeKalb County History Center Inspiring curiosity in DeKalb County's history. The DeKalb County History Center is dedicated to "Inspiring curiosity in DeKalb County's history."

10/15/2026

✨ Look what we made possible together! ✨

October is National Arts & Humanities Month, and we’re celebrating by looking back at an incredible summer that was filled with history, art, music, and community.

From the opening of “We the People of DeKalb County” special exhibit and our expanded campus, to the Sycamore Farmers Market, Crib Notes Summer Concert Series, new public art projects, and our community’s celebration of America 250, this summer was full of opportunities to connect with the stories and people that make DeKalb County special.

And none of it would have been possible without our donors. ❤️

To everyone who donated, volunteered, attended, visited, and supported the History Center: THANK YOU for helping us bring local history to life!

We’re so grateful for this community and can’t wait to see what we dream up next.

🐾 It's almost National Veterinary Technician Week!Next week, October 18-24, we’re taking a look back at veterinary care ...
10/15/2026

🐾 It's almost National Veterinary Technician Week!

Next week, October 18-24, we’re taking a look back at veterinary care in DeKalb County and we are getting ready by sharing a photograph from our collection dating back to 1909!

This photo features E. A. Little standing in front of his Lunchroom and Pool Hall at 113 North Maple Street, along with another man outside the S. L. Scheidecker Veterinary Clinic at 119 North Maple Street, downtown Sycamore, Illinois.

More than a century later, we’re celebrating the veterinary professionals who care for our furry friends, livestock, and keep our communities healthy. 🐶🐮🐱

🎃 Pumpkin Fest is almost here! Is your home ready to celebrate? 🎃Add a festive touch to your fall décor with a handmade ...
10/15/2026

🎃 Pumpkin Fest is almost here! Is your home ready to celebrate? 🎃Add a festive touch to your fall décor with a handmade Pumpkin Fest barn quilt!

Join us THIS SUNDAY, October 18, from 1–4 p.m. at the DeKalb County History Center for our Sycamore Pumpkin Fest Barn Quilt Workshop with Courtney Sliga of The Verdant Path.

Create your own 16″ x 16″ Pumpkin Fest design, perfect for hanging in your home before guests arrive to celebrate all things Pumpkin Fest! 🍂 No painting experience is necessary, and all supplies and step-by-step instruction are included.

🎨 Can’t make it in person? We’re also offering take-home kits so you can paint your barn quilt from the comfort of home! Kits will be available October 18-31 during regular hours of operation.

Fee is $90 per person and portion of the proceeds supports the DeKalb County History Center. Make something festive, celebrate the season, and bring a little Pumpkin Fest spirit home with you!

👉 Register or reserve your take-home kit now at https://www.dekalbcountyhistory.org/events/sycamore-pumpkin-fest-barn-quilt-workshop/

🎃 Pumpkin Fest will be here before we know it! And who better to get us in the spirit than Pumpkin Fest icon Wally Thuro...
10/14/2026

🎃 Pumpkin Fest will be here before we know it! And who better to get us in the spirit than Pumpkin Fest icon Wally Thurow?

Affectionately known as "Mr. Pumpkin" this throwback photo from 1957 captures Wally and his first wife, Dean, at a Halloween party. While living on 13th Street in DeKalb, neighbors Larry and Hoyes Halbemaiers said Wally was known for his "haunted yard" and decorated pumpkins lining the front steps. 🎃

And now it’s our turn to keep the Pumpkin Fest spirit alive, just like Wally!

We’re looking for VOLUNTEERS for our annual Pumpkin Fest Historic Homes Tour on Saturday, October 24. Choose from a morning or afternoon shift, and help us share the stories of Sycamore’s historic homes and make this beloved Pumpkin Fest tradition a success!

🎟️ Volunteers receive a FREE $30 Historic Homes Tour ticket as a thank you and are invited to a Volunteer Training on October 17 at 10 am.

Ready to join the fun? Sign up below or contact the DeKalb County History Center to get involved. Let’s make this year’s Patriotic Pumpkin Fest featuring red, white, and blue houses one to remember!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094CACA92CA4FB6-65113125-2026 #/

👀 Did you know you can find an extension of our "We the People of DeKalb County" exhibit at locations throughout the cou...
10/13/2026

👀 Did you know you can find an extension of our "We the People of DeKalb County" exhibit at locations throughout the county?

That's right, there's SO MUCH local history to explore beyond the walls of the DeKalb County History Center and throughout the community! Our history partners are helping share the stories of the people who have shaped DeKalb County with custom "We the People" displays you can find by paying them a visit.

Here are a few friendly faces showing off the display at the Shabbona Lee Rollo Historical Museum! Thank you to our history partners for helping us celebrate and share the stories that make our county special.

📍 Have you spotted one of our displays? Let us know where in the comments!

Learn more about the Shabbona Lee Rollo Museum at slrmuseum.com.

Haish School gymnasium at South 9th and Franklin Streets in DeKalb, just south of Haish School, looking northwest from S...
10/13/2026

Haish School gymnasium at South 9th and Franklin Streets in DeKalb, just south of Haish School, looking northwest from South 9th Street, 1940.

Also, a later view after 1975.


Today, on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re highlighting Chief Shab-eh-nay, a Potawatomi leader featured in our "W...
10/12/2026

Today, on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re highlighting Chief Shab-eh-nay, a Potawatomi leader featured in our "We the People of DeKalb County" exhibit.

In the early 1800s, Chief Shab-eh-nay played an important role in treaty negotiations and worked to protect both his people and settlers during a time of growing conflict. In 1832, he rode on horseback across multiple Illinois counties to warn settler families of potential danger ahead of the tragic Indian Creek Massacre.

Despite his efforts, his own people faced displacement and the loss of their homeland. Nearly 175 years after his reservation was illegally sold, land was finally returned to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in 2024, reconnecting the Nation with its ancestral homeland in DeKalb County.

His story reminds us of the importance of recognizing Indigenous history, honoring the Potawatomi people’s enduring connection to this land, and sharing the stories that have too often been overlooked.

Visit the "We the People of DeKalb County" special exhibit at the DeKalb County History Center to learn more!

You can also learn more about Chief Shab-eh-nay from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation at https://www.pbpindiantribe.com/shabehnay/

📸 A few more moments from last week’s "Etched in Stone" Elmwood Cemetery Walk!A big thank you to local resident and phot...
10/11/2026

📸 A few more moments from last week’s "Etched in Stone" Elmwood Cemetery Walk!

A big thank you to local resident and photographer Julian Cordero of Lamb Creative & Photo for capturing these wonderful moments. We love sharing the stories of DeKalb County’s past and finding new perspectives to bring local history to life for our community.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us in celebrating and remembering the stories that connect us all! ❤️

📣 Join us TODAY for Homegrown: Stories from the Struggle for LGBTQ+ Equality in DeKalb!Every community has stories worth...
10/11/2026

📣 Join us TODAY for Homegrown: Stories from the Struggle for LGBTQ+ Equality in DeKalb!

Every community has stories worth preserving, including those that haven’t always been told. 🌈

Join us today, Sunday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum to learn about the local history of LGBTQ+ advocacy in DeKalb County. Former Community Members Against Discrimination (CMAD) members Mary Shelden and Margie Cook, alongside former Human Relations Commission Chair Norden Gilbert, will share the story of local efforts to expand protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

At the DeKalb County History Center, we believe understanding our community’s history means listening to the many voices and experiences that have shaped it. We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation as we prepare for the upcoming Legacy Wall exhibit! Learn more at https://www.dekalbcountyhistory.org/events/legacy-wall-exhibit/

Presented in collaboration with the DeKalb County Mental Health Board, DeKalb Public Library, and the Ellwood House Museum.

Address

1730 N Main Street
Sycamore, IL
60178

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm

Telephone

+18158955762

Website

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