Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area

Special Offer! Bring a guest for FREE to the Official Annual Canal Alliance Congress. 😯 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e5qrzmt8 Think there’s a colleague from your organization or another that would benefit from attending our annual event–a day of networking, engaging discussions and collaboration? From now until midnight on Fri, Sept. 6, you can invite them to join you for FREE. Use coupon code TWOFORONE (note: add two participants/tickets as you sign up, and then apply the coupon code upon checkout). Building upon the successes of our past Congresses, we have a fun, interactive program planned that will include activities, discussions and workshops. Come meet/re-connect with people holding similar positions in organizations from around the region while learning about each other’s operations, successes and needs. Breakfast and lunch will be served. #iandmcanal #nonprofit #nonprofitleadership #strategicplanning #illinois #community #planning #nationalheritagearea

40 years ago–on August 24, 1984–President Reagan signed the bill that established National Heritage Areas. This, as Reagan called it, “new kind of national park” combined preservation, conservation, recreation and economic development in a culturally significant region. The Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area, which is made up of 60 communities in the 862 sq. miles that was impacted by the I&M Canal, was the first (hence the reason the signing was in Chicago). Today, there are SIXTY TWO, and we're excited to share this milestone anniversary with them. MotorCities National Heritage Area Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area The Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA) Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Susquehanna National Heritage Area Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area National Aviation Heritage Area Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Freedom's Way National Heritage Area Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area 📸 Steve Stout

Moe is ready for his close up 🎥 🐴 😁

The I&M Canal National Heritage Area turns FORTY on Aug. 24... But, what is the I&MCNHA? 🤔 Well, first there was the I&M Canal, a 96-mile hand-dug canal that opened in 1848 and connected the Illinois River to Lake Michigan. The canal was the final link needed to complete an all-water route that ran from the East Coast through the Great Lakes down to the Gulf of Mexico. That route led to extensive growth in the region, including transforming Chicago from a swamp town into a metropolis. In 1984, Congress and President Ronald Reagan recognized the need to develop a "new kind of national park" that promoted the culture, heritage and economic development of a region that wasn't necessarily on federally owned land. The FIRST of these "national heritage areas" was ours, which supports 5 counties and 60 communities (862 square miles in all) that owe their growth to the canal. The I&MCNHA is marked in blue on the map. The Canal Corridor Association (CCA) is the nonprofit, coordinating agency that has been given authorization by Congress and works closely with the National Park Service to oversee the I&M Canal National Heritage Area. In this capacity, the CCA has developed the I&M Canal Visitors Center, I&M Canal Boat Tours, numerous events and programming throughout the year and even this social media channel. 😁 For more info, visit our site: • I&M Canal: https://lnkd.in/gHW7qHTr • I&M Canal National Heritage Area: https://lnkd.in/gC-MKJiF • Canal Corridor Association: https://lnkd.in/gVajpqyZ #iandmcanal #illinois #community #storytelling #enjoyillinois #history #historymatters #nationalheritagearea #illinoiscommunity #chicago #visitillinois #americanhistory

Join us as we get the gang back together! The Canal Alliance Congress is Thurs, Nov. 21. 🤜🤛 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e5qrzmt8 Take a break from the office to spend a day collaborating and brainstorming with colleagues from around the I&M Canal National Heritage Area as we discuss plans and opportunities for our organizations in 2025. Runs from 9:30am to 3:30pm (with coffee + snacks starting at 8:30am and lunch around noon). Runs from 9:30am to 3:30pm (with coffee + snacks starting at 8:30am and lunch around noon). The conference will take place at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Four Rivers Environmental Education Center (25055 S Walnut Ln) in the Village of Channahon. #iandmcanal #nonprofit #nonprofitleadership #strategicplanning #illinois #community #planning #nationalheritagearea

Last Chance to find out Lincoln's connection to the I&M Canal! Get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/gB9hWbiH Our I&M Canal Boat Event with Lincoln is THIS Sunday (8/11), and in addition to meeting Honest Abe, you'll enjoy being introduced to Moe the Mule, interacting with our crew of period dressed guides and hearing tales of the canal’s heyday–all on a 60-90 minute boat ride. 📍 I&M Canal State Trail- Lock 14 Access, LaSalle, IL Kevin Wood City of LaSalle #HistoricalTour #BoatTour #IandMCanal #AbrahamLincoln #HistoryExperience #TravelIllinois #HistoricalReenactment #CanalTour #FamilyFriendly #WeekendGetaway #VisitIllinois #LincolnLegacy #LivingHistory #Tourism #DiscoverHistory

Wonderful event! Definitely worth a visit to check out the Gaylord Building and then explore the I&M Canal Trail and Lincoln Landing.

Book your fall Group Tours on our 1840s-Replica, Mule-Powered I&M Canal Boat! 🍁 While the weather is so beautiful (and occasionally hot), it may seem premature to be talking about autumn (and we still have availability if you’d like to book in August). But, September and October on the canal are really a special time of year. The weather cools a little, making it comfortable, and the leaves provide an explosion of colors as they change from our current bright greens to reds and oranges. As always, the tours, which run through October, include the opportunity to meet Moe the Mule, interact with our period-dressed and knowledgeable crew and discover how the I&M canal impacted the region, city of Chicago and the nation–all while enjoying a 60–90-minute boat ride. You can also customize your trip. For instance, many groups this year have added a catered lunch to their outing. Get more info here: https://lnkd.in/gQnFytmP Or, contact Patti (lasalle@iandmcanal.org) for questions and to book > #iandmcanal #iandmcanal175th #illinois #community #storytelling #enjoyillinois #history #historymatters #nationalheritagearea #companyouting #grouptours #teambonding #groupouting #sightseeing

Join the Gaylord Building Historic Site as they honor their past (like with this oldest known photo of the site) and embrace their future. Celebrate the amazing preservation story of this historic structure and the 40th Anniversary of the I&M Canal National Heritage Area, the nation’s first National Heritage Area, with a special event at the Gaylord Building. Barbara Donnelley (who oversaw the building's restoration in the 80s) and Jerry Adelmann (a founder and former-President of the Canal Corridor Association, which oversees the I&M Canal National Heritage Area) will discuss the building's unique history, including their pivotal roles in the building's preservation. Tickets are just $25 per person and include appetizers and soft drinks served by the Public Landing Restaurant. A cash bar will also be available. To reserve your tickets, contact the Gaylord Building office at (815) 838-9400 or click here: https://lnkd.in/gydfEzcv Shown: A photo from the early 1880s 📍Sun, Aug. 4, 2024 from 3pm to 5pm • Gaylord Building ~ Second Floor Banquet Room • 200 West 8th Street, Lockport #iandmcanal #illinois #community #storytelling #enjoyillinois #history #historymatters #nationalheritagearea #lockportil #lockportillinois #preservation

Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of the I&MCNHA at the Gaylord Building, and discover this iconic landmark's fascinating preservation story. On Aug. 4 at 3pm, the Gaylord Building Historic Site is hosting an event with special guests Barbara Donnelley (who oversaw the building's restoration in the 80s) and Jerry Adelmann (a founder and former-President of the Canal Corridor Association, which oversees the I&M Canal National Heritage Area) who will discuss the building's unique history, including their pivotal roles in the structure's preservation. Get more details and purchase tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gydfEzcv Shown right: Originally a storage warehouse during the I&M Canal's construction, the building had fallen on hard times during the economic downturn in the 1970s. Shown left: The Gaylord Building in modern times. In the '80s, businessman and philanthropist Gaylord Donnelley set out to renovate the building with the hope that it would spur a regional economic revitalization effort. Around the same time, President Ronald Reagan signed a law on August 24, 1984 that established the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area. Reopened in 1987, the building was one of the first spaces to be opened as part of the public/private partnerships of the I&M Canal National Heritage Area. Its new look reflected its historic character yet “adaptively reused” the structure to accommodate contemporary needs. #iandmcanal #illinois #community #storytelling #enjoyillinois #history #historymatters #nationalheritagearea #lockportil #lockportillinois