Current and upcoming events:
Manhattan Civil War Living History Event
If you have an interest in the American Civil War and want to learn what it was like to be in a Union garrison camp in 1863, you will not want to miss this event. The Manhattan Township Historical Society will be hosting an outdoor living history event from 12 pm to 3 pm on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at the Manhattan Historical Museum at 255 South State Street. This event will begin immediately after the completion of the community parade. Manhattan Township based Cypress Company, featured at this event, is an informal group of independent reenactors who are members of various reenactment units and come together for living history events. They will be present in period uniforms to set up camp behind the museum facility near the caboose.
The 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry [The Historic Will County Regiment] will set up a small tent area featuring a typical camp displaying food rations, weaponry and the typical personal equipment an infantryman would carry. Plans include periodic infantry drills presenting marching, weapon handling and actual musket fire. The ‘boys’ are a friendly lot and have been known to coax willing members of the public to interact with the troops. Depending on weather conditions and personnel availability, these plans can change. The reenactors generally try to stay ‘in character’ portraying 1860s soldiers, but will happily break character to answer any questions you may have. This event is free and for the whole family and will be interactive, educational and entertaining.
2025 Calendar
Past Event:
On March 27th we had a great pleasure of welcoming Dr. Larry McClellan at our museum for a speaker event. Dr. McClellan presented on the topic of Underground Railroads in our area and through Northern Illinois. Dr. McClellan is an author of three books on the same topic and is well known in the academia for his expansive research into the true history of the underground railroad movement. It was wonderful to have him as a presenter and guests also enjoyed spending time with Larry afterwards, asking questions and getting the books signed. We are glad to have had a number of attendees and are looking forward to our next speaker event.
Past Event: Museum Anniversary
On October 5th, the museum celebrated its ten year anniversary with an open house. We had many visitors and a beautiful day celebrating our past efforts. With this anniversary, we are presenting a new exhibit in the main exhibit room. Ten Years of Museuming is available for viewing on open days. On display is a chronological account of all of the exhibits and events presented in the past ten years and a small selection of artifacts to represent each event. The Historical Society is so grateful to all of the volunteers and members making this milestone possible.
L-R Kadri Luering, MTHS President; Bob Davis, Director of the Board; Susan Carlton, Vice President; Mary Kay Cooper, Secretary; Joann Jeffers, Director of the Board; Patsy Leadingham and Howard Clumpner, members and volunteers. Not pictured Andy Partak, Director of the Board, and Eileen Partak, Treasurer.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Past Event:
Annual 3rd Grade Field Trips.
It has become a Manhattan tradition that every year in October the third grade classes walk to our museum from the Anna McDonald school and spend some time viewing the history of the area. Due to the large size of the grade, these field trips take place over several days (3-4) and each day several classes walk over for their turn. Museum volunteers spend some time with each group explaining exhibits, and some free time is also allowed. We have noticed that many of these children return to the museum in following years and bring their families. We have enjoyed reading the thank-you letters from the students and look forward to the next group of students in 2025.
Photos courtesy of Joann Jeffers
Past Event:
On August 20th, The Museum had a great pleasure welcoming a guest speaker, Bill Mueller, to our town with his “Time to Ship Another Steer” book tour and presentation. Thank you, Bill, for a memorable evening, stories and laughs!
Past Event:
On July 6th, the Museum hosted its annual Living History Event, a favorite Civil War reenactment demonstration taking place on Museum grounds each summer. A big thank you to The Cypress Company!
Photos courtesy of Andy and Eileen Partak