A weekly investigation of the history of Pekin and Tazewell County, including an archive of all blogs going back to 2015.
With the United States of America preparing to celebrate its 250th birthday...
Jared L. Olar
January 22, 2026
Among the notable men of Pekin’s history, James Michael Haines (1822-1909) was...
Jared L. Olar
September 11, 2025
The first 19 years of Pekin’s history cover the period when our...
Jared L. Olar
March 14, 2024
Pekin Mayor Mary Burress will formally inaugurate Pekin’s yearlong calendar of Bicentennial...
Jared L. Olar
January 18, 2024
In the summer of 1834, the small pioneer community of Pekin –...
Jared L. Olar
November 2, 2023
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
September 11, 2020
This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...
Jared L. Olar
March 15, 2019
This is a revised version of one of our “From the Local...
Jared L. Olar
May 11, 2018
This is a revised version of one of our “From the Local...
Jared L. Olar
May 4, 2018
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.
From the Archives
Discover your Family's History
Read stories about the people, places, events, landmarks, businesses, and everyday moments that helped shape Pekin’s history.
