The Western Illinois Museum invites the public to experience Oakwood Cemetery: A Community Story, a new exhibition exploring one of McDonough County’s most historic landscapes. The exhibit will be on view in the Museum’s Walkway Gallery from May 9 through August 8, 2026.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, marking the anniversary of Oakwood Cemetery’s official recognition by the state of Illinois as a historic site. At 7:00 pm, historian Dr. John Hallwas will present a talk on the history of Oakwood Cemetery and the individuals buried there.
The exhibition features 50 photographic documents of headstones that illuminate the lives, stories, and traditions connected to the cemetery. It offers an exploration of Oakwood Cemetery as a place of memory, art, and local history. Organized into 12 thematic sections, the installation includes a historical overview of the cemetery along with a map. The themes guide visitors through stories of early frontier settlement, Civil War soldiers, conductors on the Underground Railroad, Potter’s Field, notable community leaders, and more. These historic markers, along with the evolving traditions of remembrance and the craftsmanship of headstone carvings, invite viewers to consider cultural practices of commemoration. Visitors will also have access to an exhibition checklist with expanded biographical information, a QR code linking to the cemetery’s GIS map for burial site locations, and copies of John Hallwas’ Here to Stay.
The exhibit is supported in part by Clock Tower Bank, the McDonough County Historical Society, and WIU Archives and Special Collections. The exhibition was researched and curated by John Hallwas and WIU Archivist Kathy Nichols, and designed and installed by Ximena Barreto.
Located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, just south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square, the Western Illinois Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history, culture, and traditions of McDonough County. The Museum serves as a community hub for exhibitions, lectures, music, and public programs that connect people through shared history.
For more information, visit wimuseum.org or follow @ wimuseum on social media. Contact the Museum at 309837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email info@wimuseum. org.
