Radio that Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois

Explore the history of Springfield's public radio station and the people who brought it to life.

For five decades, Springfield’s public radio station has been more than just a broadcast—it’s been a companion, a teacher, and a bridge between communities. This new exhibit celebrates that legacy, tracing the station’s journey from its first broadcast as WSSR at Sangamon State University in 1975 to today’s NPR Illinois.

Visitors can explore rare recordings that bring history to life, view behind-the-scenes artifacts from the station's early days, and experience interactive displays that showcase how a small campus station evolved into a vital part of the region’s cultural and civic life.

Want to visit the exhibit? You can find it now at the Lincoln Library, Springfield’s Public Library.

Can’t make it in person? The story continues online.

Soil & Soul: Farming in the Sangamon River Valley

Uncover the inspiring stories of the farmers who infuse their passion and dedication into the land of the Sangamon River Valley.

From November of 2024 to May of 2025, The Sangamon Experience at the University of Illinois Springfield showcased the exhibit, "Soil & Soul: Farming in the Sangamon River Valley." This exhibit featured a powerful documentary film that shares the inspiring stories of ten individuals who have devoted their lives to farming in the Sangamon River Valley, a vibrant region encompassing approximately 1,500 square miles in central Illinois.

The physical exhibit is no longer available, but the virtual exhibit is still open for visitors to see.

Soil & Soul is presented by United Community Bank, with additional funding from the Melvin Wing Charitable Trust and the Dan and Carolyn Dungan Family Fund. 

Exhibit Space

The heart of Sangamon Experience is a 5,300-square-foot exhibition and interpretive space located in the Public Affairs Center, between the bookstore and the new Center for Lincoln Studies. Designed by FWAI Architects, Inc. of Springfield, the space opened on January 30, 2020. Still under development, features will include multimedia and interactive exhibits, historical maps and photographs, a small theater, and interpretive text developed by teams of UIS students, faculty, and area community partners.  The exhibit space is open during PAC building hours. Contact us for directions or with inquiries about tours.