Barns are practical. They store equipment, keep animals safe, and speak to our agricultural impact. And now Illinois Public Media is bringing you the story of these iconic structures that dot our landscape with the new documentary Barns: An Illinois Story, featuring barns in Champaign, Piatt, McDonough, and Peoria counties.

As if Abraham Lincoln wasn’t enough, a small central Illinois town can lay claim to a visit from Marilyn Monroe. The actress visited the community of Bement in Piatt County 60 years ago this week.  It's known for being the site where Lincoln and Stephen Douglas met to plan their famous debates.  But on a day in the summer of 1955, it was Marilyn’s town.