Event details Several professional photographers briefly stopped in or called Decatur their home in the years before and during the Civil War. Learn about their history as we discover our first local photographers, find evidence of their time in Decatur, and view some of their surviving work. Event requirements Free. No registration required.

One of the best-known newspaper editors in Civil War era Illinois spent most of his career in Decatur, but today is largely unknown. Related by marriage to Abraham Lincoln, this colorful and controversial character both made the news and reported on it. Historian and author Dr. Robert Sampson explores how and why James Shoaff and his newspapers always brought readers back for more. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park. Free. No registration required.

Event details From fun to fitness and even women’s rights, bicycles had a big impact on daily life in Illinois. Author and guest speaker Christopher Sweet’s new book rediscovers the people, companies, and events that made our state synonymous with the bicycle. Professor Sweet is a librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University. Co-hosted by the Decatur Bicycle Club. After attending the "History of Bicycling in Illinois" program, join local cyclists for a casual group ride north along the bike trail from Rock Springs to Fairview Park and back. The ride may not leave exactly at 3 pm, depending on how long ...