Sycamore, IL – The DeKalb County History Center is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States with a new exhibit, “We the People of DeKalb County.” The public is invited to a special sneak preview during the May 7 Brown Bag Lunch program.
The full exhibit will officially open on May 30 at the History Center, with companion displays featured at locations throughout DeKalb County.
During the Brown Bag Lunch preview, Executive Director Michelle Donahoe will introduce the exhibit and its themes.
“This exhibit connects to several themes identified by the Illinois 250 committee: Doing History, Power of Place, and We the People. We are also using this opportunity to highlight stories that are often missing from the historical narrative.”
As this program is also on the same day as Give DeKalb County, stop by to see how donations to the History Center and Ellwood House are put to work.
Commemorating the nation’s semi-quincentennial, “We the People of DeKalb County” explores how the local community has engaged with the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. The exhibit reflects on the Declaration’s proclamation of equality and unalienable rights, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” and the Constitution’s enduring call to civic participation and the pursuit of “a more perfect Union.”
Visitors will encounter stories of changemakers from across DeKalb County, past and present, young and old, whose contributions have helped shape the community. The exhibit emphasizes that success is measured not only by personal achievement, but also by creating opportunities for others to thrive.
The lecture will feature information about a small sample of individuals included in the exhibit along with some images of the objects that will be on display, as well as a discussion about the related hands-on activities for children and public programming throughout the year.
The Brown Bag Lunch series is held on the first Thursday of each month as a partnership between the DeKalb County History Center and the Ellwood House Museum. The May 7 program will take place at the History Center, 1730 N. Main Street in Sycamore, beginning at 12:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public; attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch. The series is funded in part by Illinois Arts Council.
For more information, visit dekalbcountyhistory.org or call 815-895-5762.
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Images courtesy of the DeKalb County History Center archives.
Photo: The May 7 Brown Bag lunch series will feature a sneak preview lecture of the upcoming exhibit, “We the People of DeKalb County.”
Photo: Fred L. Charle at NIU Zoo with bear, Betsy, c1905.
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