James Millikin Homestead

August 2024 Open House
2024-08-26 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
Come explore the Homestead and visit the Oriental Rug Exhibit in the History Room! Open House admission is $5 for adults (Ages 12 & over), Children under 12 are FREE but must be accompanied by an adult.

July 2024 Open House
2024-07-29 02:00 - 16:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
Explore the Homestead! Visit our new exhibit in the History Room, “Oriental Carpets: Collecting Through the Ages.” Open House admission is $5 for adults (Ages 12 & over), Children under 12 are FREE but must be accompanied by an adult.

June 2024 Open House
2024-06-30 14:00 - 16:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States

May 2024 Open House
2024-05-27 14:00 - 16:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
Come explore the Homestead! Open House admission is $5 for adults (Ages 12 & over), Children under 12 are FREE but must be accompanied by an adult.

Historic Preservation Week Open House
2024-05-18 11:00 - 13:00 | IL
Historic Preservation Week
Open House
Saturday, May 18th
11:00 am to 1:00 pm
FREE
Visit our new Persian Carpet exhibit in our History Room!

Fine Arts at the Homestead: 2024 Event 4 of 4
2024-04-28 13:00 - 17:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
Poetry & Art from 1-3 pm, then an Open House from 3-5 pm! (If you purchase admission to this event, the open house is free)
This is the final event in our Fine Arts at the Homestead series. $10 Admission at the door.

About Jim Wilkerson
Jim Wilkerson is a 1996 graduate of Millikin University, where he majored in English Writing. His work has been published in Collage, The Decaturian, Folio, More Big Thoughts, and Treasured Poems of America. He is a past member of the Red Herring Poets in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. He is a current member of the Illinois State Poet Society and the Academy of American Poets. In 1996 he published a book of poetry entitled Millikin Poems: A Personal Look at College Life.

Jim is also a board member at the James Millikin Homestead and the Historic Decatur Foundation and enjoys using his talents to help local history organizations become more visible in the community. He has a passion for ministry, the arts, videography, photography, and local history.

About Annette Russo
Incidentals and realizations, like an epiphany, are momentary. Arts attempts to grasp that space formed while writing a bio is to reflect and write lists:

Assumption High
Millikin University
George Washington University

Next list:
Distracted, observant, and fascinated by too much (but mostly the natural and physical world) collector, gardener, and rock hound who uses these as inspiration for clay, paint and sculpture creation.

Annual Meeting
2024-04-25 18:00 - 19:00 | IL
Free & Open to the Public
6:00 pm
Mark Sorenson will be speaking about Ida McClelland Stout, a sculptor who grew up on Decatur’s West End.

Fine Arts at the Homestead & Open House
2024-03-24 13:00 - 17:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
*Due to Easter being on March 31st, our normal Open House for March will take place after the poetry & music on the 24th, and go from 3-5 pm!

Poetry & Music from 1-3 pm, then an Open House from 3-5 pm! (If you purchase admission to this event, the open house is free)
This is event #3 of our Fine Arts at the Homestead series. $10 Admission at the door.
About Beth Langdon
Beth Langdon is originally from Freeport and came to Decatur to attend Millikin University, graduating with a degree in Biology in 1982. She then attended Northwestern University and received a degree in Physical Therapy and returned to Decatur to work. She mainly practiced Physical therapy in home care, initially for the Visiting Nurse Association and then for St. John’s Home Care out of the St. Mary’s office. At that time she could tell you the location of every pay phone and where every back road led!
In 2017, she retired and began pursuing other interests including writing. Having dabble in poetry throughout her life, she started taking it more seriously recently, often taking on a spiritual tone. She feels many of the poems are “inspired” and often wakes in the night with a line or two in her head and then she “just runs with it”. In 2022, she worked with her church, Mt. Calvary Lutheran in Decatur, and published a book of poetry entitled, From my Heart to Yours. Since then, she has been writing several poems a week and has gathered enough for another book.
She will be sharing some poems from her book and her book to be!

About Colleen Hillyer
Colleen Hillyer, a Decatur native, earned her Bachelor of Music from Millikin University, a Master of Music from West Virginia University, and did postgraduate coursework at Shenandoah University, all
with a concentration in flute performance. She has had the privilege to study with renowned flutist, including Mr. Jonathan Snowden (Royal Philharmonic), Dr. John McMurtery (NYC Opera), Dr. Francesca Arnone, Mr. Bernard Goldberg (Pittsburgh Symphony), Dr. Francis Lapp Averitt (Maryland Symphony) and Dr. Laurie Glencross. Colleen is working on a master’s in education from the University of Mary.
Colleen teaches 5th-12th grade band and instrumental music at St. Teresa High School, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, and Holy Family Catholic School in Decatur, IL. In addition, she is adjunct faculty at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. She is a freelance musician in Central Illinois and often performs with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. When not performing, Colleen maintains an active flute studio, promotes educational opportunities for kids, serves on the Board of Directors of the
Symphony Guild for MDSO, is an advisor for the Millikin University and University of Illinois Chapters of Alpha Chi Omega. She is married to her husband, Ed, and they enjoy hanging with their dogs Avery and Sophie.

Fine Arts Homestead - 2024 Event 2 of 4
2024-02-25 13:00 - 17:00 | IL
Poetry & Music from 1-3 pm, then an Open House from 3-5 pm! (If you purchase admission to this event, the open house is free)
This is event #2 of our Fine Arts at the Homestead series. $10 Admission at the door.
About Ruth Siburt
Ruth Siburt is a lifelong Decaturite. She earned a bachelor’s graduate degree in English from the University of Illinois Springfield. A retired elementary school educator, Siburt continues to enjoy working as a freelance writer, novelist and poet. She is also a member of The Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators and a co-founder of Decatur Area Poets. Siburt has published in fiction, nonfiction and poetry across many platforms from magazines and newspapers to the trade and educational fields. Her current works are Spoon Song a rhyming picture book and Spit a historical novel for Middle/YA readers. Both are from Words Matter Publishing. She also has an update of her first children’s futuristic novel Dragon Charmer from Royal Fireworks Press.
About Stefanie Pansch
Stefanie Pansch is a musician by night and a cartographer by day. She has performed at a variety of occasions across Central Illinois including weddings, church services, high teas, and parties. In 2022 she gave a recital as part of the Brown Bag Concert Series at First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, IL. A Decatur native, her journey with bowed strings began at Parsons Elementary School with Mrs. Diana Rai, and her harp journey began at the Decatur Public Library with their copy of The Harp by Roslyn Rensch. She currently studies with Julia Jamieson, and she enjoys exploring unusual harp repertoire. She plays the violin and the cello in addition to the harp, and she also enjoys growing orchids and doing a variety of crafts.

Fine Arts at the Homestead - 2024 Event 1 of 4
2024-01-28 13:00 - 17:00 | IL
Poetry & Music from 1-3 pm, then an Open House from 3-5 pm! (If you purchase admission to this event, the open house is free)
This is event #1 of our Fine Arts at the Homestead series. $10 Admission at the door. You may also purchase a Combo Ticket for $35 and come to all four events. Purchase a combo ticket at this event, or by mailing a SASE along with your check, to James Millikin Homestead, 125 N. Pine St., Decatur, IL 62522.
About Dr. Braniger:
Dr. Carmella J. Braniger is a Professor of English at Millikin University, where she teaches creative writing and literature. She has published several narrative poems, over fifty micropoems, and more than a dozen poetry sequences. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Sycamore Review; MARGIE: The American Journal of Poetry; Modern English Tanka; Altas Poetica: A Journal of Poetry of Place in Contemporary Tanka; Ribbons; Chrysanthemums; red lights; Magnapoet; and Eucalypt. Her chapbook, No One May Follow, was published by Pudding House Publications in 2009. She recently served as the Distinguished Warren F. Hardy Professor of English during which she spent two years researching narrative testimony and poetry of witness as genres for processing and sharing our traumatic pasts and writing a new book of poems entitled Lax of Lilies.
About the Millikin Clarinet Ensemble:
Bradley Rossbach is a sophomore music education major. His college goals are to learn as much about all kinds of music as he can, experience many different styles of performing, and practice teaching in and out of the classroom. In the future, he hopes to create a band program that inspires a passion in his students for many kinds of music.
Julia Funck is a junior clarinet performance major. She performs in a variety of ensembles including the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Eidolan Woodwind Quintet, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and singing in the University Choir. Julia has earned multiple achievements such as being selected for the National Music Festival, winning the School of Music Concerto/Aria Competition, and becoming a finalist in the Hollis Prize competition.
Victor Lawton II is a senior clarinet performance major, where he studies clarinet with Dr. David Cook and composition with Dr. Jeremy Brunk and Dr. Ralph Lewis. Victor has performed with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Eidolan Woodwind Quintet, Jazz Band I, and numerous chamber ensembles. In 2021 and 2023, he was selected as a winner of the School of Music Concerto/Aria Competition where he performed as a soloist with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra.
For other events, please check our website or stay tuned to our Facebook page!

Nativity at the Homestead
2024-01-07 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-01-06 12:00 - 15:00 | IL
Back by popular demand!
A Nativity Display at the James Millikin Homestead 125 N. Pine Street, Decatur
Saturday and Sunday, January 6th and 7th 12 pm – 3 pm
Admission: $5 per person; children under 10 are free. All proceeds help support the preservation of this Decatur landmark.
End the Christmas season by touring a variety of nativity styles ranging from vintage to modern- all loaned by local people.
You also get a last glimpse of the beautiful Christmas decorations throughout the home and the display of antique Christmas tree items in the History Room

Christmas Open House
2023-12-03 12:30 - 15:30 | IL
Come see the Homestead all dressed up for Christmas! FREE admission!

October Open House
2023-10-29 14:00 - 16:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
Come explore the Homestead! While you’re here, check out our new exhibit in the History Room, “Elegant Dining in Victorian Times.” Open House admission is $3 for adults, $1 for Children 5-12, and Children under 5 are Free.

Taste of History 2023
2023-10-07 17:00 - 21:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
We’re thrilled to announce the date of this year’s Taste of History!

Taste of History is a progressive evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres around different historic sites in Decatur.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event will be from 5 pm – 9 pm.

Go to https://www.muellermuseum.org/Taste-of-History for more information.

September Open House
2023-09-24 14:00 - 16:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States
Come explore the Homestead! While you’re here, check out our new exhibit in the History Room, “Elegant Dining in Victorian Times.” Open House admission is $3 for adults, $1 for Children 5-12, and Children under 5 are Free

August Open House
2023-08-27 14:00 - 16:00 | James Millikin Homestead, 125 N Pine st, Decatur, IL, 62522, United States

June Open House
2023-06-26 14:00 - 16:00 | IL
join us for our June open house
