Prairie Land Conservatory – Wigwam Hollow Bird Sanctuary

Founded in 2008, the mission of Prairie Land Conservancy is to preserve wildlife habitat, open space, natural areas and sustainable agricultural land within west-central Illinois. They are a division of Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development. Prairie Land Conservancy is currently working to restore 200 acres of woodland at Wigwam Hollow Bird Sanctuary in  Macomb,…

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Multicultural Center / Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center

WIU Multicultural Center exterior

The Multicultural Center, home of the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Casa Latina Cultural Center, the Women’s Center, and the LGBT*QA Resource Center, aims to advance the goals of educational, social, and cultural awareness. Together, the MCC provides resources to enhance the campus community’s understanding and appreciation of all identities. During the spring of 1969, a…

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Center For The Performing Arts

Architectural rendering of the future Center For The Performing Arts exterior 2

With construction planned to begin mid-Fall 2020, the $8.9M Center for the Performing Arts (formerly known as the Performing Arts Center), will support the academic mission and programs in Western Illinois University‘s College of Fine Arts and Communication and is the first Macomb campus building constructed with public funds in nearly 40 years. The 130,000-square foot Center…

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Living Lincoln Topiary Monument

Abe with Macomb's Living Lincoln Topiary Monument

The Living Lincoln Topiary Monument is a 15 feet high and 8 feet wide bust of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. It’s mixed media construction of durable cast stone and steel features a unique topiary aspect in which the 16th president’s beard consist of real living flowering plants and greenery, making it the only sculpture of…

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University Art Gallery at W.I.U.

The University Art Gallery on the campus of Western Illinois University provides quality visual art experiences to enhance the cultural life of the university and the McDonough County region. The gallery provides a permanent collection of art for study, and a schedule of changing exhibitions that complement university curricula and initiatives. The University Art Gallery’s…

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McDonough County Historical Society

Since 1969, the McDonough County Historical Society, a not-for-profit organization, has been an important force for promoting historical understanding and preserving materials that reflect the Forgottonia county’s heritage. Their mission supports the preservation of McDonough County, Illinois heritage. The organization also offers free historical programs at their meetings five times a year (September, November, January, March and…

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McDonough County, Illinois

Established in 1830, McDonough County is named for Commodore Thomas McDonough who led a successful battle against the British on Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. The county has the unusual distinction of forming a perfect square by Mercator map projection. The county seat, Macomb, is situated at the very middle of McDonough, and…

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Leslie F. Malpass Library at WIU

The Leslie F. Malpass Library on Macomb’s campus of Western Illinois University, was opened on Sept. 5, 1978 as the main branch of the WIU Libraries. The facility provides instructional and research support to the University and community and houses more than 1 million cataloged volumes. Boasting six levels and enclosing over 200,000 square feet, the…

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