Canal Warehouse Utica, IL _June 2023_Doc

LaSalle County Historical Society

The LaSalle County Historical Society's campus is located on the banks of the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal, and is situated in the quaint village of Utica, Illinois. Neighbor to the beautiful Starved Rock State Park, with an annual attendance of 2.2 to 2.8 million, we are at the heart of one of Illinois’ top tourism destinations! Utica is easily accessible and conveniently located near where Interstates 80 and 39 meet.

The campus consists of our Canal Warehouse, Heritage Center, Canal Market, Blacksmith Shop/Barn, and One-Room Schoolhouse. The society also holds several events throughout the year, most notably our Annual Burgoo Festival and our Wild Bill Hickok Days.

Discover the rich history of LaSalle County

Plan your visit today!

Welcome to the

website in process of being updated

Hours of Operation

Our Museum Complex is open to the public Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 12-4pm.

We also open by appointment Monday - Thursday, kindly email us at

office@lasallecountyhistoricalsociety.org

(two weeks prior notice is needed for staffing)

Admissions

Visiting the LCHS Museum Campus is free- we charge no admissions fee. In return, we ask that you consider making a donation while enjoying the many exhibits and buildings that house our local history! It is these donations which keep our museum doors open to the public.

Schedule a Weekday Tour!

E.B. Thornton Endowment

The LaSalle County Historical Society announced a $25,000 Endowment has been established in memory of local historian, preservationist and long-time supporter of the Historical Society, Edmund B. Thornton. The Endowment, received from the Edmund B. Thornton Foundation, will be used for reimbursement of compensation paid for interns.

The Officers and Board of Directors along with the Staff and Members of the Society are honored to have received this generous gift from Susan and Taylor Thornton, the wife and daughter of Edmund, on behalf of the Thornton Foundation.

Beginning in 2025, the Society will utilize endowment funds to hire interns who will assist in the collection, preservation, and education of LaSalle County history. College students studying history, or a related subject will have priority in filling these part-time or short-term paid positions. Important duties such as assisting with collections research & digitization projects, drafting articles, and helping with Museum events are examples of jobs interns perform.

Intern Application