Sangamon Experience is a multifaceted initiative that highlights the history of the Sangamon Region of central Illinois. Sangamon Experience includes a interactive exhibition space at UIS, a dynamic website to share and promote local historical activities, online historical research, and customized community partnerships.

Sangamon Experience is made possible by a major private gift to the University of Illinois Springfield. It is housed within the UIS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

We seek input from local historical and cultural organizations to help supply materials, ideas, and research for upcoming programs and exhibits. If you are interested please contact us.

Featured Stories and Events

Find hundreds of programs and tools at TheCivicSeason.com and on our social media pages. The Civic Season is made possible thanks to the generous support of Marcia Carlucci and AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate.

What is your favorite part of your hometown? We decided the best experts are you- Sangamon County, Illinois residents- people who cheered on the “Baby Birds,” rue I-55 rush-hour traffic, who grew up learning about Abraham Lincoln in Illinois and have banded together to help each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sangamon Experience asked the public to submit images of objects they think best represent their town. The parameters were broad: an object could also be a person, a place, an institution, or an idea. After receiving submissions, we assembled twenty pieces that represent the themes identified by the public. In addition to items from the University of Illinois at Springfield’s Archives, we have partnered with many local institutions and individuals to gather artifacts from around Sangamon County to tell this community-driven story.

If you have a story you would like to share about your community in Sangamon County please email the Sangamon Experience at sangamonexperience@uis.edu

The Sangamon Experience is seeking to record and preserve the personal responses of University of Illinois at Springfield students, faculty, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. While official responses to this unprecedented event will be collected by the University Archives, we want to ensure the inclusion of personal experiences and reactions in our collections. Help us gather this important information by participating in this project. Contact Anne Moseley, Sangamon Experience Curator by email asutt4@uis.edu.

Anne Moseley Hired as Director of Engagement and Curator for Sangamon Experience 

Anne Moseley has been selected to lead the University of Illinois Springfield’s new Sangamon Experience and Center for Lincoln Studies. Moseley started working on April 6, 2020, as director of engagement and curator for Sangamon Experience and acting director for the Center for Lincoln Studies.

Grand Opening, January 30, 2020

Read all about our grand opening ceremony and reception, including photos. See video of the speeches and Tom Irwin’s musical performance below. Thank you to all who made the event a success!