[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 77 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LaSALLE COUNTY HISTORICAL 
                             SOCIETY MUSEUM

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                          HON. ADAM KINZINGER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2017

  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 50th 
Anniversary of the LaSalle County Historical Society's Museum in Utica, 
Illinois. The LaSalle County Historical Society was formed in 1907 and 
acquired their first building, the 1848 Canal Warehouse in 1967. Since 
then, the museum campus has grown to a one-room school house, a 
Heritage Center, a blacksmith shop, and a barn from 1875.
   Their mission statement says ``To search out, procure and preserve 
in permanent form, facts and data in the history of the County of 
LaSalle as related to persons, places and all objects therein. In order 
to meet said purpose, the primary duty of the Society shall be to 
discover, collect, and preserve any facts or relics pertaining to the 
history of LaSalle County and to encourage the study of LaSalle County 
heritage, its times and people.''
   The Museum spans the long and varied history of LaSalle County, 
including artifacts from the Native Americans and earliest settlers of 
this region to the carriage that Abraham Lincoln used to travel to the 
famous Lincoln-Douglas debate held in Ottawa, Illinois.
   The building itself, a nineteenth century warehouse situated along 
the historic I&M Canal, served as a warehouse for the local cement mill 
and a general store before becoming Utica's first post office in 1849. 
The LaSalle County Historical Society saved the historic warehouse from 
destruction and now the region is one of the most popular Illinois 
vacation destinations with 2.2 million annual visitors.
   Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th Congressional District, the 
citizens of LaSalle County, and the millions who have enjoyed learning 
about the history of LaSalle County at the Museum, I sincerely 
congratulate them on achieving this milestone. The importance of 
preserving and appreciating our history cannot be overlooked and the 
dedication of the LaSalle County Historical Society and all of their 
volunteers is a key part of this time honored tradition. I look forward 
to what they will accomplish in the next fifty years.

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