The National Park Service (NPS) is well known for protecting spectacular features and nationally important historic sites. Yet, the NPS also strives to preserve sites that celebrate the cultural history of regional and local places such as our state. It strives to make "history come alive" in many places.

In Illinois, these sites include three National Heritage Areas, 88 National Historic Landmarks, 26 National Underground Railroad sites, and nearly 2,000 locations on the National Register of Historic Places, with some in every county. This presentation will highlight a few key sites across the state that, even if far from the host organization, need to be noted as important parts of our cultural history. It will then focus on National Register sites near the host organization, making each talk unique. Dr. Moline hopes listeners can recognize and appreciate the cultural history in our landscape and then visit some significant places. He presents this program as a tribute to the NPS and to the citizens who worked diligently to gain NPS recognition for these historic landmarks and national register sites.

After the identification of some sites across the state, questions will be invited. Then, when attention turns to the local area, questions again will be welcomed; attendees who have visited any of these sites will be invited to share additional information or personal experiences about those places.

This presentation aligns with the Illinois America 250 Commission's theme “We the People.” This theme invites us to explore ideas of who has been included and who has been left out of the nation’s promise, as well as how people from all backgrounds have shaped and reshaped what it means to be part of “the people.” The Illinois America 250 Commission's goals are to uplift local stories, places, and programs; build pride; and showcase how Illinois brings the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to life.