Most people can picture the Betsy Ross flag and today’s Stars and Stripes. But what came in between? The Western Illinois Museum (WiM) and the General Macomb Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) invite the community to find out in a new exhibit, Red, White, and Blue: Celebrating 250 Years of Our American Flag, opening October 27.
Created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibit traces the American flag from the colonial era to the present day. Along the way, visitors will meet some unexpected versions of the flag and see how the symbol changed as the nation did.
The exhibit features 22 reproductions of historic flags, books, and brochures, along with a DAR display. Visitors can also browse the General Macomb Chapter’s DAR Patriot Book, which shares the stories of the Revolutionary War patriots connected to its members.
Honoring Veterans with a Community Reception In honor of Veterans Day, the DAR will host a reception at Western Illinois Museum (WIM) on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9:30am- 12pm. Personal flags and refreshments will be provided.
Exhibit Details
What: Red, White, and Blue: Celebrating 250 Years of Our American Flag When: On view Oct. 27 through Nov. 21, 2026 Where: Western Illinois Museum, 201 S. Lafayette Street, Macomb Admission: Suggested $5 donation Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9am–5pm; Saturday, 9am–1pm.
When the exhibit closes on Nov. 21, it will be made available to borrow through WIM by schools, libraries, and organizations. The project was funded by the DAR 250 Celebration Grant.
For more information, visit wimuseum.org or follow @ wimuseum on social media. Contact the museum at 309837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email [email protected].
About the General Macomb Chapter, NSDAR The General Macomb Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is a volunteer women’s service organization in Macomb. Admitted to the National Society in 1910, it promotes historic preservation, education, and patriotism through grave marking, youth programs, and a scholarship for a Western Illinois University history major.
The National Society DAR, founded in 1890, has approximately 190,000 members in about 3,000 chapters worldwide. Learn more at ildar.org/chapters/macomb.
