THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY MUSEUM RELEASE
Photos by Bill Pickett
DANVILLE, IL — Graduate students from the University of Illinois Department of Urban & Regional Planning will share their semester-long project, Exploring Coal’s Legacy in Vermilion County, at a public presentation and discussion on Saturday, December 6, at 1:00 p.m. at the Vermilion County Museum, 116 N. Gilbert Street, Danville, Illinois.
During the event, students will present their work mapping a coal heritage trail through Vermilion County. Over the semester, the class identified and documented key sites that tell the story of coal’s deep influence on the region’s social, environmental, and economic landscape. The project highlights locations that range from local museums preserving miners’ stories to fossil-rich formations in an underground petrified rainforest, as well as areas affected by coal ash contamination along the Middle Fork River.
Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback on the students’ findings and proposals. The class developed ideas for making selected sites more publicly accessible and engaging as historical and educational destinations, with the goal of connecting residents and visitors to the county’s coal heritage.
“This project brings together place, history, community engagement, and natural heritage,” said Emily Guske, Research Specialist at the Climate Jobs Institute, who taught the class UP 510 Plan Making throughout the semester. “By exploring how coal shaped Vermilion County — and how its legacy continues to affect people and the environment today — the students are helping to imagine new possibilities for heritage, learning, and community revitalization.”
The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided.
Event Details
Location: Vermilion County Museum, 116 N. Gilbert Street, Danville, IL 61832
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
Light refreshments provided
