The old Pillsbury Mills plant is being razed on the north end. Meanwhile, artifacts from the plant have gone on display in a new exhibit at the ALPLM. Moving Pillsbury Forward, in conjunction with the ALPLM, developed this exhibit focused on the early years of the plant. “The exhibit represents an era in local manufacturing that provided hundreds of good jobs during the Great Depression and set the stage for future expansion at the plant in the 1950s and 60s. And it highlights the huge ripple effect of economic activity that came to our community with industrial scale flour manufacturing,” Moving Pillsbury Forward said in a release. Among the items on display are a wooden barrel, custom grain scoop, antique hand card, 100-pound Sno-Sheen Flour sack, Winn “Wilky” Wilkins cartoons and a 1940 aerial view of the plant. The barrel was donated to Moving Pillsbury Forward after the Adams Street fire destroyed many artifacts. The exhibit is just outside of the Ghosts of the Library Holavision Theater within the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Visitors can view the exhibit at the standard full-museum admission or a special admission rate for just the Pillsbury exhibit.
Springfield Pillsbury Plant – The Early Years 1929-1949
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Ongoing through end of May
This article appears in March 5-11, 2026.
