LaSalle County Historical Society Museum

05/28/2026

According to "Buffalo Bill's Own Story", Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok first encountered each other while working for Russell, Majors & Waddell, a stagecoach and wagon-freighting company at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. During this period, Hickok reportedly became Cody's mentor, as Cody was only 11 years old. Cody wrote that he initially met Hickok when Hickok intervened to save him from a beating by an irate teamster. Their paths crossed again in Junction City, Kansas in 1866, where Cody was employed as a scout. Cody and Hickok's association continued in a traveling show that commenced in the early 1870s. Known as Buffalo Bill, Cody initially collaborated with Ned Buntline in productions featuring Cody and his associate Texas Jack Omohundro. In 1873, Cody extended an invitation to Hickok to join the cast of Scouts of the Plains. This production, which also included Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack, was among the earliest Wild West shows.
We will be hosting Buffalo Bill’s best of the Wild West Extravaganza, an 80 minute live arena show, behind Jamie's OutPost Parlor/Mix's Trading Post both Saturday and Sunday starting at 1:30pm. Acts include Annie Oakley, Trick Shooters & Riders, a Gatling Gun and even Ol’ Buffalo Bill himself!
In addition there will be an encampment with old time vendors and exhibitors that will be open to the public from 10-4pm each day.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome to help preserve LaSalle County’s rich history and heritage.
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is brought to you in part by our friends at Explore Utica UBA! Thank you for your continued support!

05/28/2026

Joseph G. Rosa (1932–2015) was an English writer and THE premier authority on Wild Bill Hickok. Rosa authored approximately 17 books on the American West with 9 focusing on Wild Bill Hickok specifically.
Rosa’s approach to research was what we consider the gold standard. Not only did Rosa comb through local, state and national archives, including through many letters at the Kansas Historical Society, he also earned the trust of the Hickok family and was granted access to their heirlooms and archives. He was very close with Ethel Hickok, who was the niece of Wild Bill Hickok, and visited her frequently in Village of Troy Grove.
In our archive we have a copy of Rosa’s Wild Bill Hickok, Peacemaker given from Rosa to Ethel! Note Rosa’s address in England, Ethel’s handwriting, and the paper clipping noting the mistaken announcement of her death in the La Salle NewsTribune paper.
Learn more interesting tidbits at at our From LaSalle County to Legend: Wild Bill Hickok presentation tonight at Star Union Spirits! Presentation begins at 6:30. Tickets available at the door for $25 ($20 LCHS members) or on Eventbrite (link in comments). And don’t forget Wild Bill Days is this weekend!

05/28/2026

Climb on the bandWAGON and take a wagon ride this weekend during our Wild Bill Days in Utica! Wagons will run 10-4pm in two locations Saturday and Sunday!
First wagon will be cruising around beautiful downtown Utica. Pick up and drop off near Market on Mill Retail Plaza. Second wagon will be taking our cowboys and cowgirls back and forth between the LCHS Canal Market and Jamie's OutPost Parlor/Mix's Trading Post! Second wagon will take a break to perform while our Buffalo Bills Wild West Extravaganza is taking place from 1:30-3:00.
Wagons sponsored by our friends at Explore Utica UBA🤠🐴

05/27/2026

Aaron Hickok was born in 1742 in Woodbury, Connecticut, and is remembered as a soldier of the American Revolution. Historical records indicate that he served as a private and minuteman in the Berkshire County militia, answered the Lexington Alarm in 1775, and later fought at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. In addition to his military service, he was described as a farmer who also owned an iron forge and a sawmill. He married Deborah Kent, raised a large family, and is often noted in genealogical records as an ancestor of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok.
Although Aaron Hickok and his great-grandson James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok lived in different times, their stories share some clear family connections. Aaron was part of the Revolutionary era, while Wild Bill became a well-known figure of the American West. Both men are remembered for living during important moments in American history and for showing independence, courage, and toughness. The family connection runs from Aaron Hickok to his son Oliver Otis Hickok, then to William Alonzo Hickok, and finally to James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok. Their story feels especially meaningful in 2026, as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of American independence and also remembers the 150th anniversary of Wild Bill Hickok’s death on August 2, 1876.
America250
Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Historical Society

05/27/2026

Happy birthday to LaSalle County’s very own James Butler Hickok. Born on this day in 1837 in Homer (present day Troy Grove) to parents Polly Butler and William Alonzo Hickok.
Join us this weekend to celebrate a LaSalle County Legend as we pay homage to him during our Wild Bill Days!

05/26/2026

Now that we have had time to decompress from the holiday weekend, let the planning begin for Wild Bill Days🤠🐴🎉
This weekend LaSalle County will be the place to be with three locations for free family friendly entertainment with events happening in Utica, Il, Mendota, Illinois, and Troy Grove, Illinois!
Check out the full list of events below! Trolley service between sights and oh so much to see and do!
Thank you to our event sponsors and co-hosts including Mendota Museum & Historical Society, Troy Grove, Illinois, Explore Utica UBA

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day we take time to honor all of the service men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice to our great nation.
Memorial Day has its roots in the Civil War. There are records of both Confederate and Union supporters decorating the graves of men that fought and died during the War between the States. Officially Memorial Day can be traced back to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), founded in Decatur, Illinois, when then Commander in Chief John A Logan proclaimed it as a national day of remembrance and observance on May 30, 1868. At that time the holiday was known as Decoration Day. Memorial Day became an official National holiday in 1967 and was officially moved from its original May 30 date to the last Monday in May with the Uniform Holiday Act in 1968.
Our facilities will be open today, Memorial Day, until 4pm. We have many displays of those great citizens of LaSalle County giving their all to protect our freedoms.

05/24/2026

Wild Bill Hickok would become Deadwood’s most famous resident despite only living in the town for less than three weeks. Hickok, along with his friends Colorado Charlie Utter and Calamity Jane, arrived in Deadwood in the Dakota Territory in July of 1876. But by August 2, 1876 Wild Bill would be dead. He was shot in the back of the head while playing poker infamously holding the “Deadman’s Hand” which consisted of a pair of Aces and Eights (fifth card unknown).
2026 marks the 150th Anniversary of this tragic event and our friends at the Mendota Museum & Historical Society will be hosting another famous LaSalle County native, Walt Willey, in a one man performance entitled “End of the Trail” with two times, 11am and 2pm, both Saturday and Sunday!
Trolley rides will run both days between all events from 10-4pm. Start planning out your family fun adventure during our Wild Bill Days next weekend!

05/23/2026

Throughout his life Wild Bill would go by a variety of names. His given name “James Butler Hickok” as a young man, then later he would use his father William Hickok’s name. In some publications (like news of the time he was arrested) he was referred to as William Haycock, and during the Civil War he would sometimes introduce himself as James Haycock. This makes keeping track of his life a difficult task, and contributes to his life feeling more like legend than fact.
We will be hosting Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Extravaganza, an 80 minute live arena show including trick shooting, horse riding stunts and much more, behind Jamie's OutPost Parlor/Mix's Trading Post both Saturday and Sunday starting at 1:30pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to help preserve LaSalle County’s rich history and heritage! Stage coach will be running between the LCHS Canal Market and the outpost throughout the day too! In addition there will be an encampment with old time vendors and exhibitors that will be open to the public from 10-4pm each day! Your family won’t want to miss our Wild Bill Days!

02/27/2026

Two great (and different) programs at two great venues! Mark Walcyznski, Starved Rock historian and author, will be presenting at the Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center on March 14 at 1pm.
He will then hit the road and be presenting with us a separate program on May 3! If you love local park history these programs are a must!

Attention nature lovers, history buffs, and fans of Starved Rock State Park, historian and author Mark Walczynski will be presenting a program at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center at 1:00 pm on March 14 entitled Exploring Starved Rock's Past.

This is a different program from the one he will be presenting in May at the LaSalle County Historical Society. Both great programs but different themes, locations, and dates.

C'mon out. We'd love to see you!

Exploring Starved Rock’s Past
Date: March 14, 2026
Start Time: 1:00 PM

Discover the turn of the 20th century events that created the foundation for the second state park in Illinois-Starved Rock State Park, with historian and author Mark Walczynski.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center
Starved Rock Foundation

02/15/2026

Visit the Seneca Historical Guild today to wish them Happy Birthday! They are one of the 13 stops on the LaSalle County Museums' Passport Weekend and will be open today and tomorrow 10-4pm.

Happening 161 years ago in Crotty (Seneca) this week - 1865...

On February 16th, the state legislature in Springfield approved the charter for a new town in Illinois... Crotty. There was an organized government for a few years before this incorporation, but this is the date it was recognized by the state.

Happy Birthday to US!

The Crotty Village Council, with Anthony Mallaney as President (the position was not called a mayor), approved to draw $5.00 from the treasury to send H. Armstrong to Springfield to obtain a copy of the charter.

The Village Council established a committee to determine the possibility of constructing a bridge across the Illinois & Michigan Canal.

We don't have a picture from 1865 Crotty/Seneca, so we will settle for a 50th birthday picture (circa 1915) of downtown Seneca looking north from Armour Street.