A COMMUNITY ON THE PRAIRIE: BISHOP HILL, ILLINOIS TRAVELING DISPLAY NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2023

The Bishop Hill Heritage Association, in partnership with the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, has created a traveling exhibit about the formation of the Bishop Hill Colony. This 12 full-color free-standing exhibition panels is easy to set-up and use. To make it affordable, there is no rental fee but you are responsible for the shipping cost.

The Bishop Hill Colony was a Swedish religious communal colony founded in 1846 by Eric Janson and his followers. The Colony survived for only 15 years but left a lasting legacy in immigration history. By 1930, 20% of all Swedish people in the world lived in the U.S. Immigration experts agree that much of this Swedish exodus to Illinois and the United States can be traced to the impact of the Bishop Hill Colony. Because of Bishop Hill’s importance to Swedish migration, not only is it a state historic site, but Bishop Hill is also a National Historic Landmark. In addition, 18 Colony buildings still remain and are in use today.

If you are interested in having this exhibit on display, please call us at 309 927-3899 or email us at bhha@mymctc.net for more information . We will be happy to answer your questions and place you on the schedule.