Community Calendar

The story of America then, told by America now. This filmed production of the original Broadway cast brings Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical to the screen in all its energy and brilliance. Follow the meteoric rise and tragic fall of Alexander Hamilton, immigrant, soldier, writer, and founding father, as he fights to leave his mark on a young nation still finding its footing. Bold, inventive, and endlessly compelling, Hamilton blends hip-hop, jazz, and classic show tunes to tell one of history's most fascinating stories in a way you have never quite seen before. Whether you are a first-time viewer or a longtime fan, this is not a show to miss.
The film runs 2 hours and 40 minutes and rated PG-13. The program is free and open to the public, presented through public performance rights by SWANK.

Mark the nation's 250th anniversary by creating a small but meaningful work of art inspired by America — past, present, or future. Select a creative prompt to guide your piece: Then, Now, Next (a reflection on where America has been and where it is headed), What Freedom Looks Like (your own personal interpretation), My America (what this country means to you today), or A Moment in American Life (an everyday or imagined scene from American experience).

Using a 3 x 3-inch canvas, participants may work in paint, oil pastels, markers, or bring their own materials to create a mixed-media piece that is uniquely their own. Completed artwork may be left on display as part of a community gallery running throughout the month of July. This free program is open to the public and recommended for ages 10 and older.

When most people think of the American Revolution, they think of Boston, Philadelphia, and Valley Forge. But the war was also fought on the Illinois frontier, and the story is every bit as dramatic. Freelance writer and historical researcher, Tom Emery, will present his recent work, Illinois in the Revolutionary War, shining a spotlight on George Rogers Clark, the dominant figure of the Revolutionary War in Illinois. Clark's daring captures of Kaskaskia and Vincennes, including a legendary advance through frigid, chest-deep floodwaters, make for one of the war's most remarkable and overlooked chapters. Emery will also examine Clark's lieutenants, the British officers who opposed them, military engagements across the state, and the role of Illinois's American Indian nations in the conflict. The lasting legacy of the war, felt for decades and still present today, will also receive emphasis. Tom Emery is the author of numerous historical titles and has appeared in more than 150 newspapers nationwide. The recipient of 16 awards from the Illinois State Historical Society, he is a widely respected voice in regional history.

This free program is open to the public. It will be offered in-person at the Granville Branch and virtually through Zoom. To register for Zoom, visit: t.ly/hyHPT

Calling all dinosaur lovers! In this hands-on craft workshop, participants will create their own glow in the dark dinosaur lantern, personalized with their favorite colors and dinosaurs to take home and display. Watch your creation come to life when the lights go out! This free program is open to the public and recommended for ages 6 and up. All materials will be provided.

Two hundred million years ago, a fearsome predator ruled the ancient seas, and a remarkable discovery in a crumbling cliff face is about to bring it back to life. Join Sir David Attenborough as he follows the fascinating detective story behind the discovery of an Ichthyosaur, a fish lizard older than the dinosaurs themselves. Combining the best characteristics of reptiles and mammals, these extraordinary creatures could regulate their own body temperature, possessed astonishingly acute eyesight, and were built for speed, formidable hunters in every sense. From the challenging extraction of the fossils to a stunning 3D reconstruction of the creature, Attenborough pieces together evidence from animals across the world to reveal how this ancient sea dragon truly lived.

This program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 53 minutes, rated PG and made possible through Kanopy.

Long before there were keyboards, young girls in colonial America picked up needles and thread to practice their letters, numbers, and stitches, and the samplers they left behind offer some of the most intimate glimpses into early American life we have today. This hands-on program begins with a brief introduction to the history of the sampler — what it was, who made it, and what it tells us about girlhood and daily life in 18th century America. Participants will then create their own burlap sampler using simple embroidery techniques inspired by that tradition, taking home a small piece of needlework history all their own.

Part of our America250 commemoration, this program invites you to connect with the past through the simple, timeless act of making something by hand. This free program is open to the public and recommended for ages 10 and up. All materials will be provided.

Long before screens and video games, children found joy in simple, clever pastimes that required nothing more than skill, balance, and a little friendly competition. Join us for a two-hour colonial game day featuring five games popular in 18th century America, all of which are as fun today as they were 250 years ago.
Try your hand at Hoops & Sticks, Graces, Hopscotch, Cup and Ball, and Checkers, and see which games you enjoys most. Adults are more than welcome to join in the fun! This free program is open to the public.

Before Madison Avenue, there was Chicago. At the turn of the 20th century, a remarkable confluence of immigrant entrepreneurs, creative mavericks, and freedom-seeking African Americans transformed the way America eats, shops, and thinks, and this documentary tells that story with wit, insight, and no small amount of nostalgia.

The City That Sold America reveals how Chicago gave the world fast food chains, soap operas, late night talk shows, Kleenex, and toothpaste, along with beloved icons like Tony the Tiger, the Jolly Green Giant, and the Pillsbury Doughboy. It also uncovers the origins of product placement, market research, and conscious branding, practices that still shape our daily lives today. A fascinating look at the city that quietly changed everything, and the bold, inventive people who made it happen. This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 68 minutes, rated PG and made possible through Kanopy.

In 1775, a ragtag army of farmers and tradesmen stood against the most powerful military force in the world and won. What weapons did the American colonies rely on in their fight for freedom, and how did they help make one of history's most unlikely victories possible? Through the eyes of archaeologists and historians, uncover the real stories of innovation, skill, and strategy that shaped the war's most pivotal battles. From the iconic Brown Bess musket to the world's first military submarine, get a close-up look at the powerful, and sometimes ingenious, weapons that helped secure American independence. This program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 53 minutes, rated PG and made possible through Kanopy.

Travel back in time with this art project. Participants will paint a dramatic sunset sky in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows, then layer black silhouettes of a dinosaur, tree, and birds on top to create a striking prehistoric scene to take home and display. This free program is open to the public and recommended for ages 10 and up. All materials will be provided.