Champaign County History Museum

06/18/2026

Forging Liberty is officially open! Join us at the Champaign Public Library June 18th-21st and encounter the path to Independence like never before. This rare opportunity to see the documents that helped forge a new nation is free. Avoid the lines and reserve your free timed entry ticket at www.champaigncountyhistory.org.

06/18/2026

Wilber is at Assembly Hall, now State Farm Center, at the University of Illinois. There have been many famous concerts held in the venue over the years, including Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Aerosmith, and many more. What was your favorite concert held at State Farm Center that you've attended?

06/18/2026

Tonight we would have been thanking our incredible sponsors at our Forging Liberty Opening Night Reception, but with the Champaign Public Library closed for safety, we were forced to cancel. Instead we want to take a moment to thank those sponsors, and we can't wait to open our doors to the public tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM. Get your FREE ticket today at www.champaigncountyhistory.org and witness more than 25 Revolutionary documents and artifacts.

Presenting Sponsor:
Dan and Connie Hamelberg

Liberty Sponsor:
Dixon Graphics

Patriot Sponsors:
Beckett Law Office, PC
Hickory Point Bank
Christie Clinic
Clark Dietz

Donation Support:
Alliance Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution
Meyer Capel Law Firm
REMAX Realty Associates
Laura Shapland
Meyer Charitable Foundation

06/17/2026

This week, Wilber is enjoying a concert at this well-known location! Make your guess where Wilber is and what concert he is attending in the comments below.

06/14/2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at our America 250 Kick-off and Flag Day Celebration. It was a beautiful way to formally kick off our community's celebration with a proclamation, a keynote address, music, a flag raising, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, and, of course, Popcorn!

We can't wait to see you at our next event, special exhibit, Forging Liberty, opening this Thursday at the Champaign Public Library. Get your free tickets at www.champaigncountyhistory.org.

06/12/2026

Join us June 18-21st at Forging Liberty, a special America 250 exhibit at the Champaign Public Library. Encounter more than 20 historic documents, including letters from the Founding Fathers and King George III, and an 1840 copy of the Declaration of Independence. Get your free tickets today at www.champaigncountyhistory.org

06/12/2026

Step inside the story of America’s fight for independence at Forging Liberty: The Road to Independence, a special America 250 exhibit presented by the Champaign County History Museum.

For the first time, more than 20 authentic founding documents and artifacts will be on display together in Champaign. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

June 18–21, 2026
Champaign Public Library
Free admission | Timed tickets available

Thursday, June 18: 10 AM–8 PM
Friday, June 19: 10 AM–8 PM
Saturday, June 20: 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday, June 21: 1 PM–5 PM

Reserve your ticket today at

Welcome to the Champaign County History Museum in Champaign, Illinois.

06/11/2026

Wilber is in downtown Homer. Did you guess right? In the background, Wilber is on the Jurgensmeyer Building, better known as the Homer Opera Hall. Built in 1902, the building featured a department store on the 1st floor, an opera hall on the 2nd, and a bowling alley in the basement. Over the years, it served many purposes as a bank, the Homer High School, a gym, a vaudeville theater, and more.

06/11/2026

Kick off American 250 with us and celebrate all month long. Saturday, June 13th, is our official kick-off celebration and flag-raising at the museum, followed by the opening of our blockbuster exhibit, Forging Liberty, on Thursday, June 18th at the Champaign Public Library. Come in contact with 20+ authentic Revolutionary documents on exhibit for the first time. You will see signed letters from the Founding Fathers, war maps, engravings, items from King George, and a rare 1840s Peter Force copy of the Declaration of Independence. Finish off the month with the Champaign County Freedom Celebration Parade and Fireworks. We'll be float number 1 as this year's Grand Marshals!

Reserve your free ticket to Forging Liberty today at www.champaigncountyhistory.org

06/10/2026

Wilber's taking a trip back in time when horses were the main mode of transportation for many. Where do you think Wilber is this week? Make your guess in the comments below.