Baldwin Lake
State
Fish & Wildlife Area
10981 Conservation Road
Baldwin, IL
618-785-2555 |
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Baldwin Lake is a 2,018-acre power plant
water-cooling lake that features excellent fishing and wildlife
viewing. The site also features picnicking and primitive camping. |
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Cohen
Mansion
Buena Vista Drive
Chester, IL
618-826-3913 |
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Built
in 1855, this ante-bellum mansion has a spectacular view of the
Mississippi River. This ten room, white frame home is now used as
a community center and is open to group tours. |
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Creole
House
Market Street
Prairie du Rocher, IL
618-282-2245 |
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Owned
by the Randolph County Historical Society, this 19th century
example of French Creole and American architecture and has been completely
restored to reflect life during this period. Open during special
events and for group tours only. |
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Fort de Chartres
State Historic Site
1350 IL-155
Prairie du Rocher, IL
618-284-7230 |
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Fort de
Chartres is a reconstructed 18th century stone fort located near
the Mississippi River. The site also includes the original powder
magazine, the Piethman Museum, several "ghosted"
buildings, and a typical French colonial farm. There are many
popular events held throughout the year on the grounds. |
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Fort
Kaskaskia
State Historic Site
4272 Park Road
Ellis Grove, IL
618-859-3741 |
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Situated
on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, this site preserves
the remnants of the fort that protected the city that was once the
administrative center for the French in the Mississippi Valley.
Garrison Hill cemetery is located on the grounds. |
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Governor
Shadrack
Bond Memorial
Evergreen Cemetery
Illinois Route-3
Chester, IL |
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Gravesite
of the first Governor of Illinois features a monument provided by
the state in 1881. |
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Immaculate
Conception Church
Kaskaskia, IL
618-366-2633 |
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Current
church of the Mission of Immaculate Conception that was built in
1843 and moved to its present location in 1894 because of floods. |
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Kaskaskia Bell
State Historic Site
Kaskaskia, IL
618-859-3031 |
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Called
the Liberty Bell of the West because it was rung by the town's
citizens when George Rogers Clark liberated the town from the
British on July 4, 1778. |
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Mary's
River
Covered Bridge
IL-150 between Chester and Bremen |
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Built
1854 to accommodate travelers on the Old Plank Road, this bridge
is the only example of a covered bridge left in Southern Illinois. |
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Pierre Menard Home
State Historic Site
4230 Kaskaskia Street
Ellis Grove, IL
618-859-3031 |
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Built
in the early 19th century for local fur trader, entrepreneur,
and Illinois' first Lt. Governor Pierre Menard. The home is the
one of the finest examples of French Colonial architecture in the
middle Mississippi River valley. |
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Misselhorn
Art Gallery
611 W. Second Street
Sparta, IL
618-443-5668 |
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Housed
in the old GM&O railroad depot are over 2,000 works of the renown
Southern Illinois sketch artist Roscoe Misselhorn who many call
the Norman Rockwell of the Midwest. Also feature at the
Gallery are exhibits by contemporary artists. |
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Modoc
Rock Shelter
Bluff Road
Modoc, IL |
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A State
Historical Site, this overhang under a cliff has been used by
Native Americans for nearly 9,000 years. |
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Popeye
Statue
Segar Memorial Park
Chester, IL |
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A 6
foot statue of the famous cartoon character created by Chester
native Elzie C. Segar can be found at the foot of the Chester
Bridge. |
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Randolph
County
Conservation Area
4301 S. Lake Drive
Chester, IL
618-826-2706 |
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Located 5 miles
northeast of Chester in the rolling hill country of southern
Illinois this 1,101-acre area has a 65-acre lake and offers fishing
and hunting opportunities, picnicking, and hiking trails through
scenic forest stands.
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Randolph
County
Museum & Archives Building
1 Taylor Street
Chester, IL
618-826-5000 |
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Built
in 1864, the museum is a repository for French-Colonial-era
records and special exhibits. Next door, the Randolph County
Courthouse offers a panoramic view of the Mississippi River Valley
from a 5th-floor, glassed-in observation deck, a mini-museum in
the Jail lobby, and a flag display in the courtyard. |
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| Nearby
Attractions |
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Ste.
Genevieve County, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve has the largest concentration of French Colonial
architecture in North America and includes the Bolduc House, the
Amoreaux House, and the Maison Guibourd- Vallé. The influence of
the American expansion into the area in the 19th century can be
seen at the Felix Vallé State Historic Site. Nearby Hawn State Park and Pickle Springs
Natural area offer nature lovers unique hiking opportunities. |
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St.
Clair & Monroe Counties, Illinois
Discover French colonial life at
Cahokia, a town as old as Williamsburg, Virginia or visit the city of Belleville
that offers its visitors a wide variety of attractions that
includes an art gallery, museums, and the National
Shrine of
Our Lady of the Snows. |
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Jefferson
County, Missouri
Visitors to Jefferson County
can explore the prehistoric lifestyles
of Native Americans at Mastodon State Historic Site and Washington
State Park. Other attractions include one of the last remaining
covered bridges in Missouri at Sandy Creek Bridge State Historical
Site and the Anheuser Estate in Kimmswick. |
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For Travelers Heading Up River |
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Meeting
of the Great Rivers
Scenic Byway
The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is one of
America’s newer scenic byways. With over 20,000 acres of forest
and wetlands at the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, it is a
nature lovers paradise. Visitors will find spectacular colors in
the fall and bald eagles in the winter. History abounds in the
region ranging from the prehistoric Cahokia Mounds to sites on the
National Register of Historic Places. |
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St. Louis Area
Metropolitan St. Louis offers an abundance of
activities that cover the interests of almost any visitor. |
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