Jacksonville Illinois Bicentennial

Home
United States
Jacksonville, IL
Jacksonville Illinois Bicentennial

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Jacksonville Illinois Bicentennial, Government Organization, 200 West Douglas Street, Jacksonville, IL.

In 2025, Jacksonville, Illinois, will proudly celebrate its 200th anniversary, and the Mayors Jacksonville Bicentennial Committee is excited to announce plans for a year-long, community-driven celebration.

04/02/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2026

Jacksonville Bicentennial Committee Announces Bicentennial Time Capsule Burial Ceremony

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — As part of Jacksonville’s Bicentennial celebration, the Bicentennial Committee will host a community time capsule burial ceremony on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, on the Central Park Plaza in Downtown Jacksonville.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend the special event commemorating Jacksonville’s 200-year history and looking ahead to the community’s future.

Prior to the burial, the contents of the time capsule will be available for public viewing from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The viewing will allow attendees to see letters, memorabilia and items selected to represent Jacksonville in 2025.

A short ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m., immediately followed by the burial of the time capsule.

Community members who would like to contribute a letter to be included in the capsule may still do so. Time capsule envelopes are available for purchase for $20 at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. The envelopes are designed specifically for letter submissions that will be preserved inside the capsule.

The final deadline to submit letters or other approved contents is May 8, 2026.

“This time capsule will allow us to capture a moment in Jacksonville’s history during our bicentennial year,” said Mayor Andy Ezard. “It’s a unique opportunity for residents to share messages, memories and reflections that will tell the story of our community to future generations.”

The Committee encourages residents, families, students, businesses and local organizations to take part in the project and leave their mark on Jacksonville’s history.

For more information about the time capsule or the time capsule event, contact the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

02/02/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 2, 2026

COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT TIME CAPSULE LETTERS BY MARCH 2 DEADLINE

Jacksonville, Ill. – The City of Jacksonville is calling on community members, businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to take part in a once-in-a-generation opportunity by contributing a letter to the community time capsule. The deadline to return completed capsule envelopes is Monday, March 2, 2026.

“This is our chance to speak directly to the future, sharing who we are, what we value, and what this moment in Jacksonville’s history means to us.” said Mayor Andy Ezard. “I hope folks, families, classrooms, educational institutions, businesses and organizations will take part. These letters will become a legacy for generations to come.”

Time capsule envelopes are available for purchase for $20 and can be picked up at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce located at 155 West Morton Avenue, Jacksonville. This deadline also pertains to those who have already purchased an envelope but have not yet returned it.

With a limited supply of envelopes remaining, organizers are encouraging community participation. Letters can reflect personal stories, hopes for the future, reflections of life in Jacksonville today, or certain milestones happening within organizations, schools, or businesses.

“This project belongs to our entire community,” organizers shared. “We would love to see more letters come in before the deadline.”

12/18/2025

Looking for a meaningful, local gift this holiday season?

This special edition book beautifully captures Jacksonville’s story through the years and is the perfect keepsake for history lovers, longtime locals, and proud Jacksonville fans alike.

📍 Available exclusively at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (at this time, this is the only location where the book is being sold)

🕣 Monday–Friday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
💲 $35 per book

Grab yours right in time for the holidays and stay tuned as we’ll be sharing updated holiday hours for book sales next week! 🎄📚

A timeless piece of Jacksonville history that belongs on every coffee table.

11/14/2025

BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE SHARES HOLIDAY REMINDER TO PREORDER JACKSONVILLE’S KEEPSAKE BOOK AND PARTICIPATE IN 2026 TIME CAPSULE

Jacksonville, Ill. – As the holiday season approaches, the Jacksonville Bicentennial Committee is reminding the community that preorders remain open for the” Past to Present: Jacksonville at 200” and that time capsule envelopes are still available for those wishing to be part of the city’s next 50 years of history. Both offerings make meaningful holiday gifts for family, friends and former residents.

Keepsake Book Preorders:

Written by local historian Greg Olson, the Bicentennial keepsake book, Past to Present – Jacksonville at 200, includes more than 200 pages of Jacksonville history, photographs and highlighted milestones, including coverage from the 2025 Bicentennial Celebration. The book is $35, with an additional $10 for shipping. Preorders may be submitted online, by QR code or by returning the printed form to the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, 155 West Morton, Jacksonville.

“This keepsake book is a wonderful way to honor Jacksonville’s story,” said Brittany Henry, Bicentennial Committee Member. “It’s also a meaningful holiday gift for anyone who loves our community.”

2026 Time Capsule Participation:

The committee is also reminding residents, businesses and organizations that time capsule envelopes—priced at $20—are available for purchase at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Completed letters must be returned by Dec. 30, 2025. The new capsule will be sealed and buried in spring 2026.

“A time capsule envelope is a unique and heartfelt gift,” Henry said. “It gives people a chance to leave a message for future generations and be part of Jacksonville’s story.”

More Information:

Details and questions on both Bicentennial items can be answered by contacting the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce at 217-245-2174.

11/06/2025

📜✨ Capture the Spirit of the Season — and the Future ✨📜

The holidays are quickly approaching, and with them come cherished traditions, handwritten cards, and heartfelt moments with the people we love. 💞

What better time than now to write a letter that will be opened 50 years from today?

Our new Jacksonville Time Capsule will be sealed and buried in Spring 2026 — and you can include a message for future family members, friends, residents, or even your business or organization.

💌 Purchase a Time Capsule Envelope:
• $20 each (limited supply)
• Available at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce
📍 155 W. Morton Ave.
🕒 Monday–Friday | 8:30am–4pm

✉️ Return completed letters by December 30, 2025.

Imagine someone you love opening your words decades from now — a memory, a story, a hope, a reminder of who we are today. ❤️

Let’s wrap a little piece of 2025 in love and send it forward to the Jacksonville of the future.

The City of Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation
Jacksonville Main Street
Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce

11/04/2025

✨ Reliving the magic on this beautiful Tuesday! ✨
Here’s another round of Bicentennial snapshots to keep your day going. The smiles, the music, the pride — we’re still feeling it all. 🎡

Stay tuned… there’s so much more to share! 📸

10/27/2025

Reserve your copy of 'Past to Present: Jacksonville at 200," published as part of the Jacksonville Bicentennial Celebration.

This keepsake is over 200 pages, highlighting significant events and some rarely-seen photos. Author Greg Olson has chosen significant and interesting events for each year, creating a fascinating timeline of the city's history. Plus, the book concludes with photos from the Bicentennial events - kickoff, parade, downtown celebration, and drone show.

The book is currently wrapping production, and should be available in December, making it a great Christmas gift! Cost is $35.

Reserve your copy today at
https://givebutter.com/jacksonvillebicentennialbook

10/23/2025

📜✨ Be Part of Jacksonville’s History — Again! ✨📜

We had such a fun time handing out letters from the 1975 Time Capsule to their recipients — and now, it’s your turn to make history!

🕰️ The Jacksonville Bicentennial Committee is preparing a new time capsule that will be buried in the Spring of 2026, and we invite you to take part!

Would you like to write a letter to a loved one — or perhaps include a message on behalf of your business, organization, or future residents of Jacksonville?

💌 Here’s how to participate:

Envelopes are $20 each (limited supply)

Purchase yours at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce
📍 155 W. Morton Ave.
🕒 Monday–Friday | 8:30am–4pm

Completed letters must be returned by December 30, 2025

All letters will be carefully sealed inside the new time capsule — waiting to be discovered by future generations!

Let’s keep Jacksonville’s story going for the next 50 years. ❤️

The City of Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Jacksonville Main Street Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

10/20/2025

📸 Bicentennial Celebration Photo Drop! 🎉

We have LOTS of photos to share from Jacksonville’s unforgettable 200th Celebration and it’s all thanks to our incredible weekend photographer, Cory Garner, owner of ElCrow Photography!

Keep following this page as we roll out more photos so you can relive the memories made during this once-in-a-lifetime milestone.

ALSO!!!!! Stay tuned for upcoming updates on our Time Capsule project and details on how to purchase the Commemorative Bicentennial Book, the perfect keepsake to remember Jacksonville’s 200 years of history.

10/08/2025

🥳 Wow, just wow. 💙 Jacksonville’s Bicentennial Finale was everything we dreamed of — memories made, laughs shared, history celebrated. ✨ A weekend we’ll be talking about for 200 years to come.

10/06/2025

Jacksonville Main Street Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce The City of Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Golden Eagle Illinois, LLC Twisted Tree Music Hall

Address

200 West Douglas Street
Jacksonville, IL
62650

Telephone

+12172435678

Website

https://jacksonvilleil.org/experience/signature-events/bicentennial/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jacksonville Illinois Bicentennial posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Jacksonville Illinois Bicentennial:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Jacksonville?