12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Free.

Whitman's Tavern and Store will be open for business  on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. On both days, volunteers in 1840's clothing will interpret life in the 1840s for modern-day visitors. Come over and visit. This will be part of Second Sunday weekend each month.

A number of items will be for sale at Whitman's Store during event hours on both days. What types of items? Come and see - more information to come. Donations are greatly appreciated and allow Macktown Living History to continue to operate. 

The 1846 Whitman Store is one of three original buildings remaining at Macktown Living History, 2221 Freeport Road in Rockton, Illinois, across the river from present-day downtown Rockton. William Whitman moved to Macktown in 1841 and completed his stone trading post and home five years later.

Some pictures of past events at Whitman's Store and the Stephen Mack home

Whitman Store, with 1840s proprietors and customers, at Macktown Living History Center

Macktown (Pecatonic) was founded by Stephen Mack, Jr. about 1835, shortly before Rockton was founded by the Talcotts. Mack was the first non-native settler in Winnebago County, aided by his wife Ho-no-ne-gah. But Mack died in 1850 and the bridge connecting the two communities was washed away in 1851, so the remaining residents of Macktown moved to Rockton.

In 1952, when the Mack's historic 1839 home was scheduled to be razed, 700 Rockton residents understandably objected and signed a petition against its destruction. That was the beginning of the Rockton Township Historical Society, and led to what is now called Macktown Living History.