The Power of Place

• What makes a place powerful? 

• Why do we build cathedrals or roadside attractions? 

• And how do these spaces shape our identity, memory, and sense of belonging? 

In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Aaron J. Lawler takes audiences on a unique tour of Illinois’ most sacred and strange landmarks; from ancient Cahokia to Casey’s “World’s Largest” mailbox, from the Bahá’í Temple to the Leaning Tower of Niles. This is not a travel brochure. It’s a pilgrim’s progress, a reflection on how we ritualize experience, enshrine memory, and express longing through the places we build, visit, and revere.

When people return again and again to the same places, they leave something behind: memory, longing, belief. Over time, these places become filled with the presence of everyone who has stood here before. In this way, America’s kitsch and its sacredness are not opposites but companions. The giant rocking chair, the nature preserve, and the historic landmark–they are modern shrines to the human need for meaning and connection, and remind us that sacredness is not found only in temples or cathedrals, but in any place that holds the weight of our collective attention.

Dr. Lawler closes the presentation with a few carefully selected “day-cation” pilgrimages—not as tourism, but as journeys of curiosity, reflection, and reconnection.

This presentation aligns with the Illinois America 250 Commission's theme “We the People.” This theme invites us to explore ideas of who has been included and who has been left out of the nation’s promise, as well as how people from all backgrounds have shaped and reshaped what it means to be part of “the people.” The Illinois America 250 Commission's goals are to uplift local stories, places, and programs; build pride; and showcase how Illinois brings the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to life.

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.