A special collections annex highlighting archaeological artifacts to NASA items has opened at the Tazewell County Museum. The annex opened this week in the Arcade Building in downtown Pekin.
Museum president and executive director ChristalDagit says it houses items from Abraham Lincoln, the early railroads that crossed the county and Civil War artifacts. There are items related to Pekin's late U.S. Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen and donated by Pekin native and retired astronaut Scott Altman.
Many of the artifacts have been in storage because of a lack of display space. Tazewell County is leasing the annex space to the museum for $300 a month for three years.
The museum opened in 2003. It relies on private donations and memberships.
