Browse Exhibits (21 total)

This exhibit takes a look at how one of Galesburg's Catholic Churches acquired the remains of a boy saint, and what he has to do with protecting the town from tornados.

In the center of Galesburg IL there is a statue of Carl Sandburg.  Sandburg’s statue was erected in late April of 2016 by Lonnie Stewart to commemorate not just him as a historical figure but as an award winning poet who won the Pulitzer prize three times in his lifetime.  Sandburg was also known for being a small town man who lived out the “American dream” by coming up from nothing and making a big name for himself.

Carl Sandburg was considered a myth because he possessed a unique ability to capture the essence of American life in his poetry.  His larger-than-life persona and his remarkable talent for storytelling made people believe that he had an almost mythical understanding of the human experience.  Sandburg’s words had a way of resonating deeply with readers, painting vivid pictures of everyday life and the struggles of the working class.  His powerful imagery and evocative language transported readers to a different time and place, creating a sense of nostalgia and wonder.  Sandburg’s genuine connection with everyday people and his unwavering passion for social justice added to his legendary status.  He was not just a poet, but also a historian, biographer and folklorist further solidifying his mythic reputation.  His works continue to inspire and captivate readers, ensuring that his legacy lives on.  Carl Sandburg truly left an indelible mark on American literature, earning him the status of being a mythic figure.

This exibit analyzes the current relationship between Main Street, Galsburgs central gathering area and the history kept within Hope Cemetary. Addiontally exploring how the addition of the New Public Library will reconnect the two and revitizalise the history and myths within the cemetary.

The historical exhibits in the Alumni Building of Knox College tell the stories of George Washington Gale and the Lincoln-Douglas debates. While emphasizing the activist and anti-racism ideologies that the town of Galesburg was developed upon, and how Lincoln reinforced these ideologies because of his anti-slavery beliefs.