Exhibits

To view our online exhibits, please visit our dedicated exhibits site: DCHC Exhibits.org

The Arts in Action Exhibit is open to the public May 21 - July 2, 2022.

Ellwood House Visitors Center
Tuesdays - Saturdays
12:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Sponsored by DeKalb County Mental Health Board, DeKalb County Community Foundation, Healing Illinois,
Illinois Humanities, and Northern Illinois University

The Arts in Action Exhibit is open to the public May 21 - July 2, 2022.
Ellwood House Visitors Center
Tuesdays - Saturdays
12:30 PM - 4:30 PM

NOW OPEN!!

The exhibit has four themes, "Daily Life, Change, Special Events and Government." It was a challenge to pick the objects for this exhibit. As part of the process we asked:

"Which objects tell great stories?"
"Which ones tell stories you don't expect?
"Which have hidden stories?"
"Which objects mean different things to different people?"
"Which pieces mean something different today to when they were originally created?"

These questions were not confined to objects at the History Center. We reached out to other history groups, as well as considered National Landmarks throughout the County.

Every object has a story. The best stories are those that help us understand ourselves. This exhibit looks to objects - some at the History Center, while others are found throughout the county - to tell us stories.

Click the image below to visit the online exhibit.

Exhibit Example

DeKalb Polka

Waterman Hall Waltz

Here is one example of an object featured in the exhibit: In the special event section of "History of DeKalb County in 100 objects"; we highlight sheet music from the Gualano Brothers, who lived in Sycamore. Wes Carr, a 2019 Mandolin Champion, recorded these two pieces - Waterman Hall Waltz and the DeKalb Polka.

The songs were composed in around 1894-1895 and have most likely not been heard in over 100 years. To learn more about Wes Carr, visit his website: www.rwcarr.com.