The Land of Lincoln: The Sangamon Valley landscape in the early 19th century Michael Wiant will present a program on the vegetation of the Sangamon River valley in 1822. To facilitate public land purchases, surveyors established the township and range system and noted vegetation at section intersections, which the General Land Office used to produce maps. The maps and line descriptions provide a glimpse of the landscape Lincoln found when he arrived in the Sangamon River Valley. Dr. Wiant was a member of the Illinois State Museum staff for 35 years and lives near Petersburg with his wife, Terri Treacy. Light refreshments provided. RSVPs appreciated--217-632-0202