Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum

Elgin's Bluff City Cemetery holds the remains of two individuals who had only a fleeting connection to Elgin, but whose stories are of interest to fans of the American West.  Tune in to this echo fro…

Oscar Hammerstein once said "a bell's not a bell until you ring it".  An echo from February 28, 1999, tells the story of Elgin's noteworthy bells.  

Learn about some of the unique markers in Bluff City Cemetery in this echo from August 14, 2003.

This echo from September 16, 1990 details the lives of all the Elgin High School graduates of '77.  Class of 1877, that is.  If you are attending the 2024 Bluff City Cemetery Walk on September 21/22 …

Illinois Park is the only Elgin School that was once independent.  Learn more about the Little Red Brick School in this echo from May 31, 1998.  To learn more about its teacher, Abbie C. Saunders Win…

Bluff City Cemetery opened 135 years ago and its history is as interesting as the stories of those that rest there. An echo from September 3, 1989 tells the story of its founding and early years. 

Tune in to this echo from November 16, 2002 hear the big issues presented in the school board election of 1895.

Where were Sherman and St. Joseph's hospitals located in the old days?  What was Mrs. Brockhoff's wild ride? Where did a local chewing gum magnate live?  Listen to this echo from September 17, 1995 t…

Today's U-46 Planetarium was once yesterday's Elgin National Watch Company Observatory.  Learn about this unique building in this echo from October 19, 1981.  

Housing is hard to find, and the schools are jam-packed.  Welcome to 1883. Listen to this echo from August 28, 1983 and learn about the building boom spawned by the Elgin National Watch Company's suc…

Fire up Google Street View and take a look at the houses mentioned in this echo from Sept 10, 1995.  You may hear about a new favorite, or perhaps your own home.

What do Coventry England and Elgin's Bent St. have in common? Tune in to this echo from July 27, 1997 to find out.

The Gifford Park Association hosts the Historic Elgin Housewalk each September.  Learn about the organization's roots in this echo from July 17, 2003 and plan to attend the 2024 walk on September 7th…

Rory C. Johnson and the Magnatron engine left Elgin with more questions than answers but this echo from October 28, 2002 will fill you in on what we know. 

Charles F. Shaw (1851-1939) saw many changes in Elgin. Thankfully he shared many memories with a reporter in 1937. Listen to this echo from September 9, 2002 to hear stories of Charles' Elgin.

This echo from August 26, 2002 highlights interesting events at Lords Park, 1894-1941.

What became of the Elgin Britannia casket which transported the body of President John F. Kennedy?  An echo from August 12, 2002 reveals the truth.

An echo from November 18, 2002 of interest to dog and cat owners.  Even those all the way back to 1858.

An echo from May 25, 1981 tells the story of John Dumser, Elgin's last Civil War soldier and his service to the Grand Army of the Republic. 

An Elgin Echo from January 12,1997 tells the story of the west side's Sunset Park housing development.