• Chautauqua,  Events,  Presentation

    Ways to Discovery Chautauqua – August 3 – Documenting Our Region: Our Neighbors, Our Environment and Our Universe

    The Chautauqua location is the Visitors Center Auditorium at New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg, Illinois — 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.The venue is fully accessible, ensuring everyone can participate. Our Neighbors, Our Environment and Our Universe Three speakers will demonstrate various uses of digital technology to explore, enhance and engage. Wild Columbine–Sally McDaniel-Smith, Megan Thornberry and William Furry–is a trio of central Illinois musicians who perform traditional American music of the 17-19th centuries. Collectively the ensemble has more than 100 years of performing its mix of sacred and secular music, including some songs and dances that predate the American experience. The band performs its eclectic repertoire on violin,…

  • Chautauqua,  Events,  Presentation

    Ways to Discovery Chautauqua Series – June 1 – Celebrating National Trails Day

    The Chautauqua location is the Visitors Center Auditorium at New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg, Illinois — 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.The venue is fully accessible, ensuring everyone can participate. Exploring Menard County In celebration of National Trails Day, Dr. Michael Wiant and Terri Treacy will present a program titled Exploring Menard County Trails: Ancient, Historical, Present and Futuristic. Long before roads, trails were traveled by foot between villages, favored hunting and gathering areas, and other points of interest by the Indigenous inhabitants of what we now know as Menard County. Many of these routes are unknowable, but some have persisted over centuries, if not longer, and have evolved into…

  • Chautauqua,  Events,  Presentation

    Ways to Discovery Chautauqua – April 6 – Celebrating Earth Month in Menard County

    The event will be held at the Visitors Center Auditorium at New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg, Illinois — April 6, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.RiverBank Lodge is fully accessible, ensuring everyone can participate. The wonderful watery world of river ecology! Dive into the wonderful watery world of river ecology with Dr. Jason DeBoer, Large River Scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey!  Jason’s presentation will explain why rivers are important ecosystems, describe some of the threats our local rivers face, and explore some of the wild, weird, and downright wacky fish and other animals that call our rivers home.  There’s bound to be a few ‘fish tales’ shared…

  • Chautauqua,  Events,  Presentation

    Ways to Discovery Chautauqua Series

    Rooted in the Chautauqua tradition, this lecture series delivers engaging and educational programming to our community. This year’s theme, Ways to Discovery, delves into the many paths through which we understand and navigate the world. From our evolving natural environment to expanding digital spaces, from local communities to global connections, this series explores how we come to know ourselves, others, and the world around us.  True to the Chautauqua tradition, following each program there will be live performances by local artists whose songwriting and storytelling document the culture and history of our region.   The series will be held at the Visitors Center Auditorium at New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg,…