The Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and developing the heritage of Illinois’ citizen-soldiers. It was formed in 1990 to provide a wide base of support for the preservation, presentation and dissemination of Illinois’ Militia, State Troops and National Guard.
The Society actively supports and raises funds for operation of the Illinois State Military Museum at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Although currently located in temporary quarters – a World War II vintage barracks building – the Museum is open weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings and has become an active part of the tourist circuit. Recent exhibits have highlighted Civil War General John A. Logan, the 33rd Division in World War I, and the 100th anniversary of Illinois’ participation in the Spanish American War. The current exhibit highlights the history of the Illinois National Guard since its beginnings as the state militia. Each of these exhibits has been in large part prepared and manned by Society-paid students from the history and museum studies programs of the University of Illinois at Springfield. The students are also actively involved in artifact receipt, inventory and preservation; interpret the exhibits for the public; and operate a gift counter which offers visitors a variety of books, postcards, toys, and military insignia.
