While the exhibit is hosted in Pontiac, there are numerous programs to expand the city’s Underground Railroad story in the community. Take advantage of the wonderful opportunities noted below.

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“Journey to Freedom- Illinois’ Underground Railroad” Exhibit Opening Presentation & Reception with Looking for Lincoln’s Heather Feezor

January 30th, 2025 5:30 PM, Pontiac Public Library

Be one of the first to see this amazing exhibit and listen to Looking for Lincoln Program Manager, Heather Feezor, as she details the multiple year-long journey to bring this historic exhibit to life. Refreshments will be provided.

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Historic Voices’ Laura Keyes as Lucy Pettengill Station Operator on the Underground Railroad

February 4th, 2025 5:30 PM, Pontiac Public Library

This program finds Lucy Pettengill, resident of Peoria, IL, in March 1857. Learn about the struggles she and her fellow abolitionists encountered, in order to assist freedom seekers on their way north. Hear the accounts of the efforts of the underground railroad activities from someone who was there! Mrs. Pettengill will share with you the details of the abolitionist movements and actions in Western Illinois, and why her work was not only secret, but dangerous. Laura Keyes graduated from UW-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Library Studies, and is a lifetime member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters. Laura received the Excellence in Performing Award from that Association.

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“The Underground Railroad in Livingston County, IL” by Dale Maley

February 11th, 2025 5:30 PM, Pontiac Public Library

Local Author and Historian, Dale Maley will present his research on the progression of the Underground Railroad through Livingston County, IL focusing on stories of the route from west of Fairbury, IL to Ottawa, IL. Dale is the President of the Livingston County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Fairbury Echoes Museum. Dale is an expert on Fairbury, Illinois history and has written over 80- newspaper articles and 18 books about Fairbury history.

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Chris Vallillo Meet & Greet

February 22nd, 2025 1:00 PM, Pontiac Public Library

Come meet folk musician Chris Vallillo ahead of his afternoon performance. Hear about his research and the details that inspired his musical pieces for this project and see the “Journey to Freedom- Illinois’ Underground Railroad” while you’re at the library.

Chris Vallillo is a singer/songwriter, and roots musician who makes the people and places of “unmetropolitan” America come to life in song. Having spent the last 30 years in the rural Midwest, he has a natural affinity for American roots music. A master of finger style and bottleneck slide guitar, Vallillo weaves original, contemporary, and traditional songs and narratives into a compelling and entertaining portrait of the history and lifestyles of the Midwest.

Always a project oriented artist, in the early 2000’s Vallillo began creating one man shows using music as the vehicle to explore a subject or theme. His 2008 project, Abraham Lincoln in Song, received the endorsement of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the accompanying CD of music reached #10 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart. In 2016, his latest recording, Oh Freedom! Songs of the Civil Rights Movement charted at # 6 on the Folk DJ charts. In 2018 he produced Oh Freedom! as a theatrical performance featuring a full band and a 42 voice. That show was videotaped and syndicated on Illinois Public television. In 2021 Chris was awarded an Individual Artist Support Grant from Illinois Arts to record Forgottonia and in 2022, he was awarded a Rural Initiative Grant from the Illinois Humanities Council to develop a new show Forgottonia, featuring original music about rural Illinois combined with images from award winning photographer Tim Schroll.

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Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road

February 22nd, 2025 3:00 PM
Eagle Theatre, Pontiac Illinois 319 N Plum St, Pontiac, IL

Award winning folk musician and folklorist Chris Vallillo brings the music and the stories of the Underground Railroad in Illinois to life in this engaging and powerful show featuring first person accounts of Freedom Seekers as well as performances and insights into the music that drove this historic movement. “While traditional accounts of the underground railroad generally dismiss Illinois, our state had more miles bordering slave states than any other” said Vallillo “and those borders were rivers which made for excellent escape routes.”