In this article, one of the authors talks about a local history project that she gave to second grade students. The students were given the responsibility of using primary and secondary sources to research significant historical figures in the history of DeKalb County, Illinois. DeKalb has been described as "an urban community in a rural setting." A largely agricultural community, DeKalb has a history that offers a rich opportunity for learning. DeKalb County, home to Northern Illinois University, is a little more than an hour's drive from downtown Chicago. Barbed wire was invented here. Students of pop culture know it as the hometown to fashion model Cindy Crawford. In this article, she discusses the assignment that she gave, and the procedures for collecting and interpreting information. She also discusses four possible approaches to learning about the past. (Contains 3 figures and 8 notes.)