Highland Illinois Historical Society

10/11/2026

A final huge thank you to our entertainment for our America 250 event. Your donated time and effort made this event very special!

Special thanks to:

Heartland Community Chorus - your beautiful selection of songs really set the tone of the event!

Philip Tinge and Phil'zharmoniks and Tinge Studios - you are all so very talented and really represented our theme of celebration throughout the decades.

Nice and Easy & Virgil Straeter - you were so enjoyable and kicked things off with a fun atmosphere! And Virgil, thank you for all your help with the sound system!

The Gateway Dulcimer Society - such beautiful music! Thank you for keeping this art alive!

The St. Paul German Dancers - EVERYBODY had fun watching you! It's very apparent you love what you do!

Starlight Dance - such talented dancers and you really brought the patriotic theme alive! You were so very impressive!

And last but not least:
Our own Highland Municipal Band! - there is no other group in this town that has been making music as long as you. We were honored to have you play and you did such an excellent job closing our event!

Again, thank you all for making this such a memorable event!

10/04/2026

Today is a beautiful day to visit Kaeser Park and the Highland Museum! Built in 1835, this was once a stagecoach relay stop.
Take some time to come out, stroll the grounds in the sunshine, look through the museum and talk to historians and ask questions.

Kaeser Park is open today 1-4 at 1739 Broadway and the entrance fee is a donation.
Enjoy your Sunday!

09/24/2026

Number two of our upcoming Haunted October events is so exciting for us!

The Hearth House, formerly known as the House of Plenty, was one of the featured stops on our Haunted Tours last October. Long known for its paranormal activity, it has been visited frequently by paranormal investigators and has seen activity since tragic events occurred in the 1800s.

The property was recently purchased by Teffy Beard and the Highland Historical Society is hosting a paranormal event fundraiser to help with restoring this very haunted beauty.
We are partnering with GRIP Paranormal, who will be bringing equipment and will be training you on how to use it. Most exciting of all is you will have full access to the entire house! Even the haunted basement!

This is a one-day only event, and tickets are limited.
The event will be held on Oct. 23 and times are prices are as follows:
Tour 1, 6-8pm ($30)
Tour 2, 8-10pm ($30)
Tour 3, 10pm-1am Extended tour *overnight* ($45)

Click the link below if you dare to register!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunted-hearth-house-paranormal-investigation-tickets-2002014057940?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/22/2026

We just wanted to say a big thanks again to the many Sponsors, Donors, Volunteers, and other special people who made our America 250 event a success!

Our sponsors:
ADR
Alpha's Gym
Alvarado Health Care
Big R Farm and Home
Busey Bank
Darrell Becker Insurance
Edward Jones Financial Advisors and Wealth Strategies
Fathom Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Hediger's Backhoe
Highland Woman's Club
Houseman Supply
Huels Oil
Kloss Furniture
The Korte Company
Korte Luitjohan Contractors
Lee's Fine Jewelry
Luitjohan's Flooring America
Midwest Center for Women's Healthcare
Pizza Hut
Railshake
Lynn Rehberger
Rogier Insurance
Rosenthal Optometrics
Schmitt Auto Group
Jay & Cathy Boulanger
Torbit's Flooring

Our silent auction donors:
9th St. Cafe and Bakery
Addley's Attic
Anna Finds Everything
Dairy Queen
Da Garage
Dobb's Tire and Auto
The Game Yard
Highland Diner
Highland Nutrition Center
Hippie Haus
Korte Meats
The Lory/Mac's Family Fun Time
Michael's Coffee
Myrtle and Grace
Subway
Railshake
Tru-Buy
Wild Growth Games

And an extra special thanks to the following:
The Girl Scouts
Helvetia Sharpshooters
Highland Chamber of Commerce
It's Always Party Time
Angela Gillmore Kim & The Louis Latzer Library
The Korte Company
The Madison County Farm Bureau
Mazzios Pizza
Pals Preschool
Prairie Farms and Jerry Knebel

09/17/2026

Come if you dare! Can you solve a mystery? On October 2nd and 3rd, Wild Growth Games presents, "Homicide at the Homestead" This murder mystery is bound to give you thrills, chills, and will hone your detective skills!

This event benefits the Highland Historical Society and is $25 to attend. Tickets can be purchased at Wild Growth Games or you can message 618-792-3266 to sign up.

Guests are welcome to dress the part and this is an interactive event! "Homicide at the Homestead" takes place at no other than the Victorian Mansion at Latzer Homestead!

Games will occur at 7pm on October 2nd, and 2pm and 7pm on October 3rd.

Sign up now! Tickets are limited!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F7akZWgGD/

Send a message to learn more

09/16/2026

A great time was had by all at our America 250 event!
This weekend we saw so many families and so many smiling faces!

A big thank you to all the volunteers, entertainment, sponsors, donators, re-enactors, demonstrators, vendors, attendees, and anyone else involved in our special event. Without you this would never have been possible!

09/13/2026

The St. Paul German Dancers are about to take the stage!