Bicentennial Projects

Display at Canton’s Bicentennial Celebration, June 20-29, 2025, in the Historic Train Depot.

From its 1825 beginnings, Canton, Illinois and the surrounding Fulton County communities have been steeped in agriculture and farming, which is still a major economic driver of the area. Canton was also the home to P & O Plow Works which eventually became International Harvester. The Canton Area Heritage Center is showcasing the significance of agriculture by researching, finding, and collaborating with some very special farm families. These are Sesquicentennial Farms and Families as designated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. We look forward to unveiling the “Salute to Historic Fulton County Farms” display at Canton’s Bicentennial Celebration June 20-29, 2025, in the Historic Train Depot, 50 North Fourth Avenue, near the intersection of East Elm Street and Fourth Avenue, in Canton. 

What’s in the Historic Farms display? The display of these farms, whose families have owned their farm continuously for at least 150 years, includes descriptive posters, which chronicle the migrants’ origins, traditions, and ancestry. Historic tools, household items and photos will be part of the museum’s exhibit. David Gregory, Canton-raised artist, will also exhibit original artwork as part of this agricultural tribute.

Dates and Times: June 20, 2025/4:00-7:00 p.m.; June 21-22, 2025/2:00-7:00 p.m.; June 23-June 27, 2025/4:00-7:00 p.m.; June 28-29, 2025/2:00-7:00 p.m., at the Historic Train Depot in Canton.

Contact for the Event:  Janice Dare Bruster, Project Director, or Cheryl Bielema, Museum Programs Committee Chair. Telephone and leave message, (309) 647-2242, or email, cahcpo19@att.net. Follow Canton’s Bicentennial Celebration.

Cemetery Walk Revisited

Saturday, June 21, 2025 @ 4 p.m.; Rain date – Sunday, June 22, 2025 @ 4 p.m. Location: Canton Area Heritage Center museum parking lot, at 111 S. Main Street, Canton, IL.

This event will be a live presentation of the best eight scripts from the past fifteen years of Greenwood Cemetery Walks. Actors and actresses will dress in character and portray twelve important residents from Canton. Our leading actor is a professional actor from Hollywood and former Canton resident, Mr. David Pires. Research and writing done by Mike and Susan Walters.

Free event, attendees should bring their own lawn chairs.  There will be some folding chairs available for those unable to bring lawn chairs. Parking will be provided across the street at Graham Medical Center. 

For additional information, contact Canton Area Heritage Center. Phone: (309) 647-2242; Email: cahcpo19@att.net. Follow Canton Bicentennial Celebration

Bicentennial Bus Tours

Five scheduled tours (reservations required): Saturday, June 21 @1 p.m.; Sunday, June 22 @1 p.m.; Wednesday, June 25 @6 p.m.; Saturday, June 28 @1 p.m.; and Sunday, June 29 @1 p.m.

A 60-minute bus tour of historic buildings and sites in the Canton area, accompanied by a local knowledgeable historian. The bus will stop at two historic sites for a short tour along the route. Come along in air-conditioned comfort with water and snacks provided. The tour will start and end at the Alice Ingersoll Gymnasium, located at 44 W. Walnut, Canton, IL.

For tickets @$5.00, visit: https:/src.augusoft.net or call 309-649-6260. For additional information, email, cahcpo19@att.net. Follow Canton Bicentennial Celebration

This 2021 project involved the Canton Area Heritage Center, history students and their teacher at Canton High School (CHS). Online surveys asked CHS students to describe their COVID-19 Pandemic reflections. The student leaders who worked on this project created research questions, developed a plan to reach out to their age-mates, and then extracted key findings and implications from the data they collected. A report summarized the high school students’ Pandemic experiences.