A weekly investigation of the history of Pekin and Tazewell County, including an archive of all blogs going back to 2015.
In the last few weeks we have recalled how Tazewell County was...
Jared L. Olar
April 2, 2026
It was less than a decade from the creation of the Illinois...
Jared L. Olar
March 5, 2026
With the United States of America preparing to celebrate its 250th birthday...
Jared L. Olar
January 22, 2026
While Pekin traces its origin to the 1824 arrival of Jonathan Tharp...
Jared L. Olar
November 13, 2024
Around the time white settlers began flooding into Tazewell County in the 1820s,...
Jared L. Olar
October 5, 2022
As previously noted in this column, the city of Pekin was established...
Jared L. Olar
June 22, 2018
Previously in our ongoing Illinois Bicentennial series, we saw how the controversy...
Jared L. Olar
June 1, 2018
On Friday, March 2, at 11 a.m., the Pekin Public Library will...
Jared L. Olar
February 23, 2018
It was less than a decade from the creation of the Illinois...
Jared L. Olar
February 16, 2018
Following the conclusion of George Rogers Clark’s Illinois Campaign in 1779 during...
Jared L. Olar
February 9, 2018
In the course of our survey of the events of history that...
Jared L. Olar
February 2, 2018
As National American Indian Heritage Month nears its end, this week we’ll...
Jared L. Olar
November 24, 2017
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.
