Artifact of the Month

As part of our Celebrate America’s Birthday exhibit, about once a month we are showcasing one of the artifacts in the exhibition. Today it is a Central Military Tract land grant that was issued to Francis Graves of New York on May 27, 1818 and signed by Founding Father and President James Monroe. Mr. Graves was a sergeant during the War of 1812. For his service, he was given 160 acres in Henry County, Illinois. this exhibition closes at the end of October 2026.