Museum of the Grand Prairie facts for kids
| Location | 950 North Lombard Mahomet, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Type | History, natural history |
The Museum of the Grand Prairie is a fun place to learn about history. It is located in the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet, Illinois. This museum has been officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums since 1972. It used to be called The Early American Museum.
Contents
What the Museum Does
Learning About History
The museum has an important job. Its main goal is to collect, keep safe, and explain the history of nature and people. This includes the history of Champaign County and the area around it in East Central Illinois.
Cool Things to See
The Grand Prairie Story
This exhibit tells the story of the region. It shows how different people lived here over time. You can learn about Native Americans and early settlers. It also covers farmers and people who lived in cities. Plus, it shows how immigrants came to the area later on. This exhibit gives you a big picture of life on the prairie.
Blacksmithing on the Prairie
A Real Blacksmith Shop
This exhibit is all about blacksmiths. It is based on a real blacksmith shop. This shop belonged to A.B. Chesebro. He started it in 1896 in Saunemin, Illinois. In 1993, the museum staff found out about this family shop. They were very interested in its history.
Discovering the Past
The museum staff started researching the shop. They talked to family members and people from the area. They learned that A.B.'s son owned the shop in the 1930s. This was during the Great Depression. The shop fixed wagons back then. The museum team took many photos. They also listed all the objects and how the shop was set up.
What You Can See Now
The museum now has 5,500 items from the original shop. You can see some of these items in the exhibit. Part of the shop has been rebuilt at the museum. You can visit it to see the tools and products from that time.
Champaign County's Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln's Early Days
This exhibit shows what Abraham Lincoln's time was like. It shows how Champaign County looked when he was starting his political career. The first part of the exhibit features a buggy. This shows how people traveled back then.
Exploring the Exhibit
The exhibit then takes you through different places. You can see what a tavern might have looked like. There is also a photo studio. You can also see an area church. Recordings play sounds and discussions from that time. They talk about important issues of the day.
