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  • Canton's Compelling
    History

Heritage Center

The Canton Area Heritage Center provides a place to showcase artifacts and to capture Canton’s compelling history of almost 200 years. The Heritage Center and Museum focuses on the industries that have been established in Canton over time. We also honor notable people who’ve made a difference in civic, fine arts, medical, sports, and philanthropic fields.

Greenwood Cemetery Walk, October 1, 2023: Closing the Gap…hear about the citizens who have helped improve our community in the last 50 years as we prepare to celebrate Canton’s Bicentennial in 2025.

Location and Hours: Museum is located at 111 South Main Street, Canton, Illinois. Our hours are Fridays, 10am-12 noon; Saturdays, 10am-2pm; and Sundays, 1-3pm. Groups may request tours by calling (309) 647-2242. Leave message, along with contact information and possible date and time.

Join Us: Use the 2023 Membership Form to become a member and support our efforts. Download, fill in, and mail to us along with your check. You’ll receive four newsletters and news of special events at the museum.

2022 Annual Meeting: New artifacts, donors and programs are reported in the 2022 Annual Report.

Our community, like the phoenix, rose from the fires to prosper once more.

Since its founding in 1825, Canton has capitalized on hard work, the talents and entrepreneurial spirit of its residents to bring prosperity and pride to the community. Even in the face of devastating natural disasters (i.e., fires, floods and tornadoes) and downturns in the economy, Canton has shown its resilience and drive and come back from the fires like a Phoenix to rise again!

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Headlines

Students Pandemic Reflections Project
Students Pandemic Reflections Project

Students Pandemic Reflections Project Periodically, the Canton Area Heritage Center does special projects with other organizations. After the COVID-19 Pandemic, a group of history students at Canton High School volunteered to create online surveys and involve their classmates in describing their Pandemic experiences and reflections. Read the executive summary via the link to the right.

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Plow Replicas and Final Plow Share at IH
Plow Replicas and Final Plow Share at IH

Plow Replicas and Final Plow Share at IH Several one-of-a-kind miniature plows and a plow blade have recently been donated and are on display. A donor’s Uncle hand-crafted two plows to scale. IH plant manager Jack Pollitt who oversaw the closing of IH in 1983 was gifted the final plow share produced in the plant. […]

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Cemetery Walk: “Closing the Gap”
Cemetery Walk: “Closing the Gap”

Cemetery Walk: “Closing the Gap” The Annual Canton Cemetery Walk is a unique public event about the lives of well-known, interesting, and influential people of the past from the Canton area takes place Sunday October first 2023.  It’s the annual Canton Cemetery Walk hosted by the Canton Area Heritage Center.  Local performers are the actors […]

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Vintage Nesbitt’s Soda Pop Machine Donated!
Vintage Nesbitt’s Soda Pop Machine Donated!

Vintage Nesbitt’s soda pop machine from Miller’s Bottling Works and the Canton Hotel There’s a new display at the Canton Area Heritage Center with ties to two former family-owned Canton businesses.  It’s a bright orange Nesbitt’s soda pop machine that dates back to the early 1940’s.  Nesbitt’s was known nationally throughout the 20th century for […]

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