A special bicentennial series of programs, “The Culture and Heritage of Illinoisans,” will be held the third Sunday of every month from February through October 2018. The series is presented by LLCC’s Academy of Lifelong Learning in collaboration with the Illinois State Museum and will feature several Road Scholar speakers offered by Illinois Humanities.

The first program in the series is a presentation by Illinois State Historian Dr. Samuel Wheeler. It will be held on Sunday, Feb.18, 2 p.m. in the Thorne Deuel Auditorium at the Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St. The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Dr. Wheeler’s topic is “Two Centuries to Celebrate: Illinois at the Bicentennial” and focuses on the ways our state has celebrated milestone anniversaries from statehood in 1818 through the centennial in 1918, as well as the sesquicentennial in 1968. He will discuss the ongoing bicentennial celebration plans and will help us remember what makes our state unique, which events are truly worthy of celebration, and the many Illinoisans who are worthy of admiration.

Other programs in the special Illinois Bicentennial series will examine Native American settlements, the establishment of early government, the role of transportation in binding the state together, the anti-slavery movement, the roles of entrepreneurs and employees, the prairie and agricultural growth, art and literature and concludes with a special presentation of the music that has been part of our history during 200 years of statehood. Read more and view the full series of events.

For more information, contact LLCC’s Academy of Lifelong Learning at 786-2477.