History lovers, there's plenty of lifelong learning offered this November at Rock Island Library, with programs on the Vietnam War, Lock & Dam 15, and the legacy of Chicago architects on local architecture.
History lovers will find abundant reasons to take advantage of free lifelong learning this November at the Rock Island Public Library. Three separate events feature the military history of the Vietnam War, the building of Lock & Dam 15 at Rock Island, and the legacy of Chicago architects on local buildings.
Historians from the Army Sustainment Command of Rock Island Arsenal present “Vietnam: From Tet to Saigon ’75” at 2pm Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. The one-hour lecture is the second in a two-part history of Army involvement in the Vietnam War. Audiences who can’t make the daytime event can catch a second presentation of the same talk at 6 pm at the Davenport Public Library Eastern Avenue branch.
The Rock Island Arsenal history talks return in 2024 with a nine-part series on the Civil War, also co-hosted with the Davenport Public Library. On January 10, 2024 the Army Sustainment Command speaks on the 160th Anniversary of the Rock Island Prison Barracks at 2 pm at the Rock Island Downtown Library and 6pm at the Davenport Public Library Eastern Avenue Branch.
The library offers the third in a four-part video documentary series at 2pm, Tuesday, Nov. 14, also at the Rock Island Downtown Library. “The Mississippi, River of Life” short video covers information about the building of Lock & Dam 15 at Rock Island, upper Mississippi River history, river navigation, locks and dams and the locking process. It was produced by the US Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District. The fourth installment in the series, “Historic Architecture, Old Friends Are Worth Keeping,” takes place Tuesday, Dec. 12, also at 2pm at the Rock Island Downtown Library.
Also on Nov. 14, QC native and architectural historian Ellen Shapley will present “Designing the Quad Cities, The Legacy of Chicago Architects,” from 6 pm to 7:15 pm at the Rock Island Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street. As a former tour guide for the Chicago Architectural Center, Shapley is very familiar with the imprint Chicago architects left on the built environment of the Quad Cities. She will share her discoveries and reveal some intriguing untold QC stories in the free talk.
Shapley’s program description states, “For more than 150 years, notable Chicago architects … designed theatres, department stores, banks, office towers, churches, civic buildings, some homes, and even a cemetery. The legacy these architects left behind helped create the spirit of this place we call home.”
The above programs are free and open to the public, and do not require registration. They are aimed at adult audiences.
For details, and news about many more events and services, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow Rock Island Library on Facebook and Instagram.