Events

To honor America’s 250th Birthday this year, the Bishop Hill Heritage Association is hosting a variety of programs that look at various aspects of U.S. history. On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the Bishop Hill Heritage Association is hosting Women’s Baseball in Illinois and the Midwest program in Bishop Hill, IL. In this presentation, historian and librarian Anna Sielaff will explore how Illinois played a significant role in the formation of the AAGPBL (All-American Girls Professional Baseball League). Anna will trace the evolution of women’s baseball from its 19th-century beginnings to the establishment of the league in 1943. She will discuss how the league’s unique rules developed over time and highlight the teams that made history—particularly the Illinois teams: the Rockford Peaches, Springfield Sallies, Peoria Redwings, and Chicago Colleens. The presentation will also cover topics such as the players’ uniforms, “Charm School,” and the league’s innovative publicity and promotional efforts that helped bring women’s baseball into the national spotlight during World War II. Remember, “There’s No Crying in Baseball!”

This free one-hour public program will start at 1 p.m. in the Steeple Building Museum, located at 103 North Bishop Hill Street in Bishop Hill, Illinois. This event is co-presented by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speaker Bureau. Road Scholar speakers travel throughout Illinois sharing free, dynamic presentations about literature, philosophy, theater, local history, film, music, politics, and more, at no cost to host organizations. The program enables local nonprofit organizations to present free-admission cultural programs to their communities. For more details, please call the BHHA at 309 927-3899 or email bhha@mymctc.net.