No doubt many Peoria County Genealogy Society members have traced ancestors who served in the Civil War. If they resided in Peoria County, those men were walking the grounds of Camp Peoria, east of downtown, or Camp Lyon located in the upper Glen Oak Park area at Prospect Road and Arcadia Avenue.

Today, a monument stands on the site of each camp. Erected by the George Wilson Circle, ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, each tablet contains the dates of encampment along with the names of the colonels leading these regiments.

Corey Curtis, local historian and educator, will be presenting a fascinating talk about these camps on August 2, 2026. His lecture is drawn from the personal accounts of what soldiers experienced here before they reached the southern front.

Presentation information:

Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026

Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm

Where: Pettengill-Morron House Museum, 1212 W. Moss Ave, Peoria, IL

Tickets: $20 adults, $10 students 13-21, $5 children 6-12
Tickets can be purchased at the door, at 309tix.com, or by calling 309-674-1921.
Seating is limited.