The 200th anniversary of McDonough County is approaching. It was officially created on January 25, 1826, so our county’s bicentennial comes along on the last Sunday of this month. But our amazing two hundred years of cultural development will be remembered by a host of activities and projects extending throughout 2026.
The organizers of our 200th anniversary year are participants in the extensive Bicentennial Committee, which has been operating for many months—led by several co-chairs: County Board Chairman Eric Blakeley, Macomb Mayor Mike Inman, Illinois historian John Hallwas, and Kathy Nichols from the WIU Archives. Lynne Campbell, the owner and publisher of the Community News Brief, is leading publicity efforts.
Among the programs that will highlight aspects of our two-century heritage are two scheduled by Sue Scott at the Western Illinois Museum. A two-session book discussion, “On Community,” by John Hallwas, will celebrate community in our locale over the years, including the struggle of women and Blacks for equality and belonging in our area, local residents who exemplified social commitment and the crucial value of personal memory and cultural understanding for a meaningful life experience. The discussion will be held on two Thursday evenings in April at the Museum. Hallwas, who is a prolific writer about Illinois, will lead the sessions.
In May, the Museum will unveil an exhibit of 50 images related to Oakwood Cemetery, which are focused on topics like “Early History and Notable Frontier Figures,” “Business Leaders who Had an Impact,” “Women Who Were Social Activists,” and “Leading Educators at Western.” Hallwas will also deliver a presentation May 9 to dedicate the exhibit, and the Oakwood photographs will remain available for the public to see at the Museum for a few months.
The theme for Macomb’s Heritage Days in 2026 is “Macomb, IL: Where America’s Roots Run Deep,” which will convey the intersection of national heritage and local history by emphasizing sites related to Lincoln’s legacy in our county, civil rights history (including the Rev. C.T. Vivian), historical murals, and the creation of Monopoly by Lizzie Magie, and more. Macomb’s Heritage Days is set for June 25-28, and is coordinated by the Macomb Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
On June 27 at 2 p.m., the local DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) will dedicate a “Never Forget” Garden at the American Legion Post 6, 221 East Washington St., to foster reflection upon the sacrifices suffered by many in the armed services. The dedication will feature a ceremony by the American Legion Post 6 Honor Guard. I The City of Macomb has plans to emphasize America’s 250th anniversary, on July 4, which will include an enhanced fireworks display, which will be centered at Q-Lot, off University Drive.
In addition, in October, another remembrance of military heritage will occur Oct. 9-10 at Veterans Park in Macomb, as the Macomb Park District and the WIU History Department present “World War II Comes to McDonough County: A Living History Exhibit.” For that occasion, uniformed reenactors will reside in military camps and demonstrate authentic military vehicles, equipment, weapons and wartime popular culture. WIU historians will share information on ways in which the war affected local people, musicians will perform World War II-era music and children can try out a Camp Ellis-themed obstacle course.
Small towns in McDonough County will also be hosting events. For example, the Village of Blandinsville will present its 138th Annual Farmers’ Picnic, featuring nightly entertainment, carnival rides and a Saturday morning parade honoring a significant early pioneer, William Jobe, who settled just outside what is now Blandisville in 1826. The multi-faceted event will take place on May 7-9.. Additional activities may take place on those dates at the Blandin House Museum.
Another event will be Colchester’s “62326 ZIP CODE DAY,” June 23, featuring an afternoon and evening of activities and entertainment at the park.
The event will showcase the history of mail service for the community, including a commemorative postal cancellation stamp, and more. Area food trucks and vendors will also be joining the community celebration.
There are also bicentennial activities being developed by schools, organizations and other towns, but the planning is not yet completed. Activities, programs and events will be publicized here, in the Community News Brief.
And speaking of the newspaper, Hallwas will be contributing a monthly column to the Community News Brief on the history of McDonough County, and there will also be a series of short memoirs by local people that will appear from time to time throughout the year, beginning in a few weeks. The memoir project was developed by the McDonough County Historical Society to emphasize personal experience from after World War II into the 1970s. Others who wish to write memoirs of times in McDonough County during those years may contribute by contacting Hallwas ([email protected]), or Nichols ([email protected]).
