For our inaugural event, we'll be exploring the history of Lockport High School's Central Campus! This iconic Lockport landmark dates back to 1909 and has ushered generations of Porters through its storied halls. The banquet room and bar open at 6:30pm. The presentation begins at 7pm. What
Lockport native and acclaimed author Ken Zurski will regale you with captivating stories from his history book series, Unremembered: Tales of the Nearly Famous & the Not Quite Forgotten. Books will be available for purchase.
The Gaylord Building played a vital role in the creation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. A landmark since 1838, this handsome limestone warehouse originally stored canal construction materials and later housed a variety of commercial ventures. Today the Gaylord Building is a national example of adaptive
For this month’s Think & Drink, we’re doing something a little different: we’re opening a new history exhibit! Beginning Thursday, August 8, our 3rd floor gallery will feature Rise from Ruins: The Great Lockport Fire of 1895. This exhibit coincides with Main Street Lockport’s Fire Fest, taking
Tickets are almost sold out for this fun history presentation that pairs the story of Oktoberfest with samples of delicious, seasonal beers. Host Michael Pezan explores the history behind the German festival and the many refreshing and robust beers this annual event provides. Michael is a professionally certified
For November's Think & Drink, join award-winning Ojibwa author and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Kim Sigafus McIver for an interactive presentation on Native American women in Illinois history. Dressed in her native regalia, Sigafus McIver will highlight the lives of influential women like Singing Bird (Blackhawk’s wife) and
Don't miss this excellent opportunity for organizations and interpretive sites to engage with other leaders from communities within the I&M Canal National Heritage Area and beyond. 9:30 AM Registration 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Introductions 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Bob Navarro, President & CEO, Heritage Corridor
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Lockport Woman’s Club and the Gaylord Building are proud to present a one-of-a-kind living history experience. Actress Betsey Means will bring Jane Addams to life in Democracy in America, an engaging performance based on Addams’ own words. Jane Addams (1860–1935)
For our next Think & Drink, we’re diving into the fascinating world of Heritage Trees—the towering witnesses of history that shape our landscape and communities. Join us as Kris Bachtell, Vice President of Collections and Horticulture at Morton Arboretum, shares the remarkable stories behind these trees. From centuries-old oaks to hidden
Join us for our next Think & Drink at the Gaylord Building as bestselling children’s author Kate Hannigan brings to life the bold, brilliant, and sometimes forgotten women of Illinois history. Who invented the dishwasher? Who helped stop a plot to assassinate Lincoln? And what really happened with
Ready to level up your pop culture nostalgia? Our next Think & Drink is blasting into the golden era of arcade gaming— an exclusive prelude to Comicopolis 2025! Join Brian Colin—legendary game designer behind classics like Rampage, Spy Hunter, Xenophobe, Discs of Tron, and more—as he takes
Our next Think & Drink brings us a story at the very heart of Lockport’s history. In the 1970s, the Old Central School building, a Lockport landmark since its construction in 1896, was threatened with demolition. A determined group of citizens, business leaders, and preservationists, including a
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… people imagined a future filled with intelligent machines, hovering drones, and robots that could think for themselves. As it turns out, that future may be closer than we think. Join us for our next Think & Drink