A weekly investigation of the history of Pekin and Tazewell County, including an archive of all blogs going back to 2015.
Only 11 months after the founding of Pekin, the survival of the...
Jared L. Olar
December 12, 2024
The first 19 years of Pekin’s history cover the period when our...
Jared L. Olar
March 14, 2024
As we continue our Bicentennial series on Pekin’s history, this week we...
Jared L. Olar
March 7, 2024
Three weeks ago we reviewed Dr. W. E. Schenck’s 1905 list of...
Jared L. Olar
August 11, 2022
One of the most prominent of Pekin’s community leaders in the earliest...
Jared L. Olar
July 28, 2022
This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...
Jared L. Olar
February 24, 2022
This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...
Jared L. Olar
October 21, 2021
This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...
Jared L. Olar
January 21, 2021
Ben C. Allensworth’s 1905 “History of Tazewell County” devotes an entire chapter...
Jared L. Olar
July 21, 2015
From the Archives
Read stories about the people, places, events, landmarks, businesses, and everyday moments that helped shape Pekin’s history. Each article offers a closer look at the community’s past while preserving the local stories and experiences that connect generations.
Explore Your Roots
Discover your Family's History
Read stories about the people, places, events, landmarks, businesses, and everyday moments that helped shape Pekin’s history.
