• Think & Drink: Maps with Jason King

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Maps shape how we see the world, but how often do we stop to think about how they work? Join us tomorrow evening for our next Think & Drink: MAPS! with Jason King. A former cartographer and now Department Chair of Geography at Moraine Valley Community College, King will

  • Think & Drink: 50 Years of Preservation: Plan, Purpose & Prosperity

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    As our 50 Years to Overnight Success exhibit enters its final weeks on display, we’re giving the spotlight to the artist and architect who helped bring it to life. At our next Think & Drink, join Bob Morris for a special behind-the-scenes look at the exhibit and

  • Think & Drink: Ichabod Codding & The Fight for Freedom

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    We’re excited to announce our first Think & Drink of the year, and it’s a special one. Our February Think & Drink will feature Lindsey Minas, whose research on 19th-century abolitionist Ichabod Codding forms the foundation of our newest Story Wall exhibit, Ichabod Codding: Lockport’s Forgotten Voice of

  • Celebrate Polish Christmas Heritage

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Join us for an evening celebrating the region’s rich Polish heritage and beloved holiday traditions. Enjoy authentic Polish holiday foods and drinks prepared by the Public Landing Restaurant while learning about the customs, stories, and spirit of a Polish Christmas. This special ticketed event also serves as our annual fundraiser to

  • Think & Drink: Errol McLendon – “Unrested Spirits”

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Do you believe in ghosts? Join two-time Moth storytelling champion Errol McLendon for a spine-tingling journey through his years as a paranormal investigator. From a ghost panther in Mississippi to a chilling night in an Illinois asylum, Errol’s true encounters with the supernatural will leave you questioning

  • Think & Drink: Saving Lockport’s Central Square

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink: Broken Flight – Saving Chicago’s Birds

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Tens of thousands of birds collide with Chicago buildings each year. What happens next? Join us for a special Think & Drink featuring filmmaker Erika Valenciana as she screens and discusses her compelling, award-winning documentary, Broken Flight. This powerful film highlights the tireless efforts of avian advocates,

  • Think & Drink – “Press Start for a Retro Arcade History Tour”

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Ladies in the Land of Lincoln with Author Kate Hannigan

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink – Demystifying AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping Our Future

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Artificial Intelligence isn’t just science fiction anymore—it’s changing the way we live, work, and explore the world. Join us at the Gaylord Building for a lively and accessible conversation about how AI is shaping our future! For May’s Think & Drink, researchers from Argonne National Laboratory will

  • Think & Drink: Local Heritage Trees

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink: Democracy in America – A Social Gathering with Jane Adams

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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)

  • Think & Drink: A Tasting & Celebration of Winter Beers

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    'Tis the season to be jolly! For our December Think & Drink, join us for a merry evening of winter cheer and frosty beers! Host Michael Pezan, a professionally certified brewer and Master Beer Judge, will guide us through the rich history and flavors of winter brews.

  • Fall 2024 – I&M Canal Area Gathering

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink: Singing Bird & the Importance of Native American Women in Illinois History

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink – “Okterberfest: A History (with Beer)!”

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink: Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad in Northeastern Illinois

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Historian, Larry McClellan, author of Onward to Chicago: Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad in Northeastern Illinois (Southern Illinois University Press,  2023), shares untold stories of enslaved people escaping north to Illinois and the Chicago area. McClellan's research explores multiple escape routes, including the pivotal role of

  • Think & Drink – Rise from Ruins: The Great Lockport Fire of 1895

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • The Gaylord Building – Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    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

  • Think & Drink – The Happy Invention: History & Significance of Picture Postcards

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Did you know that the first picture postcards in the United States were printed for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair? Which means Illinois played a pivotal role in postcard development. Join us for our May Think & Drink as we delve into the fascinating history of picture

  • Think & Drink – Windy City Weather: A Look at Argonne National Laboratory’s Research into Urban Climate Change

    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Join atmospheric scientists Matt Tuftedal and Paytsar Muradyan as they share insights into changing weather, climate studies, and their work with Argonne’s Community Research on Climate and Urban Science (CROCUS) project. CROCUS deploys cutting-edge scientific instruments across the region to measure temperature, wind speed, air quality, soil

  • Good Humor Comedic One-Act Festival

    Good Humor Comedic One-Act Festival
    Gaylord Building, Lockport 200 W. 8th Street, Lockport, IL, United States

    Limestone Stage presents "Good Humor" comedic one-act plays. Enjoy dinner at The Public Landing before the show. Bar service will be available throughout the performance. Tickets are $15.00