Manhattan Township 30,000 BC – 1886 AD

The Manhattan Township Historical Society will be featuring an exhibit focused on the very early history of the land and its inhabitants that became Manhattan Township. The free exhibit continues at the Museum at 255 S. State St. on Saturday, November 11, 2017, and December 2, 2017 from 10 am to 2 pm.

Common belief has it, before the Village of Manhattan was incorporated, much of the land was settled by Irish and German immigrants. They left their homelands seeking the opportunities and fortune that the construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal provided. Following the completion of the canal, many of the workers settled into a life of agriculture. The rich soils and ancient trails traversing the prairie that was to become Manhattan Township attracted these people to the region.

Why does the entire township slope from the northeast to the southwest? What really is the Indian Boundary Line? What prompted early settlers to brave the hardships of the treeless prairie and convert the grasslands into productive farms and thriving communities? What forces led to the construction of the canal in this area, shaped the land and caused the trails to course through the tall grasses?

This exhibit studies these forces, often very random, colossal and catastrophic and at the same time often very reasonable and subtle. The journey through history begins with the warming of the climate at the end of the ice age and ends with the incorporation of the village we know today.

Stop in for a visit and also find out about Manhattan’s 130 years of history and the Township Historical Society’s coming events. All are welcome to grab a chair and chat about the area’s early days with our friendly curators. If you wish to delve deeper into any of the topics presented, members of our staff can try to direct you to sources of more detailed information. As always, our museum is free and open to the public.

Also, an updated edition of the book, Manhattan Memories will be available for Christmas on State Street December 2, 2017.

Visit the Society's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ManhattanHist... or email for more information at ManhattanHistorical@yahoo.com.