Chillicothe Area Historical Society

04/13/2026

Fort Sumter, S.C. surrendered on this date, April 13, 1861, after s bombardment by Confederate troops that began on April 12. Major Robert Anderson of the U.S. Army was the commander who ordered the surrender, marking the official start of the American Civil War.

03/26/2026

Another interesting historical tidbit....

03/23/2026

Congratulations to the 2005-06 state champion IVC Grey Ghosts baseball team, who were inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame over the weekend! 🏆⚾️👻

Peoria-area athletes, coaches and teams shared accolades Saturday night during the annual Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet. See link below ⬇️

📸 MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR

03/23/2026

Thinking about weekend plans?? Look no further than our friends at the Peoria Riverfront Museum on Sunday, April 12th where they will be offering free admission to check out their AMAZING exhibits. 🇺🇸 Share with your family real artifacts from American history with the Ken Burns’ America 250 exhibit!

https://www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/exhibits-collections/america-250-celebrating-americas-250th-birthday/the-promise-of-liberty/ken-burns-guest-curator-for-america-250

03/21/2026

More interesting tidbits....

03/13/2026

We are featuring a HUGE special exhibit of 1920s through 1960s men's and women's Spring and Easter hats on loan from a private collector at our main museum on 4th St. Try them on, pose for fun photos with your friends! Open every Sunday 1 - 4, message or phone us for an appt at another time.

03/11/2026

⏰🗓️ 2️⃣0️⃣ years ago today. Press coverage from one of the greatest days in IVC history. The Grey Ghosts slipped past Maroa-Forsyth, 57-54, to advance to the Class 1A State Championship game against undefeated Seneca, taking the game to the final seconds, 44-47. 🏀👻🏆

03/11/2026

⏰🗓️ 2️⃣0️⃣ years ago today. One of the greatest days in IVC history. The Grey Ghosts slipped past Maroa-Forsyth, 57-54, to advance to the Class 1A State Championship game against undefeated Seneca, taking the game to the final seconds, 44-47. With the State finals no longer in Peoria, this story is unlikely to happen again. A legend that will never die for Grey Ghost fans that night.🏆🏀👻

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03/07/2026

Historical tidbit....

02/24/2026

More tidbits....

02/19/2026

Another historical tidbit:
To secure this future supply, the Navy established the Constitution Grove at the Naval Support Activity Crane base in Indiana, where more than 50,000 acres of forest are managed specifically to produce white oaks that take 150 to 200 years to mature.
These trees will replace hull planks, keel sections, and structural beams during major restorations, ensuring the ship remains seaworthy for generations. It’s one of the most unusual long‑term conservation programs in the world: a modern navy cultivating centuries‑old timber to preserve a vessel that predates the White House itself.