2025, marks the official 50th anniversary of NPR Illinois! 91.9 FM officially signed on to broadcast to central Illinois on January 3, 1975, as WSSR. Dive into 91.9 history at this special site.
To celebrate, UIS' Anne Moseley, Sangamon Experience director, and Evie Rodenbagh, graduate assistant, spent the past year combing through NPR Illinois files, audio recordings, archives, and tchotchkes to chronicle the history of central Illinois' public radio service.
The exhibit opened Sept. 18, 2025, at the Lincoln Library—Springfield's Public Library (directions/hours) as "Radio that Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois." It will run through May 2026. Michel Martin, NPR Morning Edition co-host, helped open the exhibit along with current and former staff, volunteers, students, donors, and friends (see slide show below).
The Sangamon Experience wants to hear your stories and memories about NPR Illinois whether you are a former employee, current listener, or donor. To connect with them, please email sangamonexperience@uis.edu or call 217-206-8051.
1 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (12).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
2 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (23).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
3 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (22).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
4 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (20).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
5 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (25).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
6 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (3).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
7 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (1).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
8 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (2).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
9 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (10).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
10 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (14).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
11 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (11).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
12 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (13).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
13 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (16).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
14 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (15).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
15 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (18).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
16 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (24).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
17 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (8).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
18 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (9).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
19 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (4).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
20 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (19).jpg
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
21 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (5).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
22 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (6).jpg
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
23 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (7).jpg
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
24 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (17).JPG
Sangamon Experience exhibit opening for 'Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois.'
Clayton Salter & other attendees
25 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (3).jpeg
NPR Morning Edition co-anchor Michel Martin has a conversation with UIS Public Affairs Reporting program journalism students in the NPR Illinois Suggs Studio.
Randy Eccles / nprillinois.org
26 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (2).jpeg
NPR Morning Edition co-anchor Michel Martin has a conversation with UIS Public Affairs Reporting program journalism students in the NPR Illinois Suggs Studio.
Randy Eccles / nprillinois.org
27 of 27
— 50th photos-selected/50th opening (1).jpeg
NPR Morning Edition co-anchor Michel Martin has a conversation with UIS Public Affairs Reporting program journalism students in the NPR Illinois Suggs Studio.
Randy Eccles / nprillinois.org
Evie and Anne spoke to Community Voices about organizing the research for the exhibit, interesting people, and former programming that have impacted the station with Bea Bonner as they were starting the research:
NPR Illinois 50th Exhibit.mp3
Anne and Evie shared an update with Randy Eccles just before the exhibit opened.
Sangamon Experience produces Radio That Talks to You - 50 Years of NPR Illinois exhibit.mp3
