Visitors Guide to Attractions
Randolph County, Illinois
The attractions of Randolph county reflect its rich and varied history. Discover French colonial life at Fort De Chartres or the Pierre Menard Home. Illinois played a part in the American Revolution when George Rogers Clark captured Kaskaskia. Randolph County has numerous historic sites, museums and natural areas.
Baldwin Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area
Baldwin, Illinois
Baldwin Lake is a 2,018-acre located within the Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Randolph and St. Clair Counties near Baldwin, Illinois. The Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area and Baldwin Lake are designated as a waterfowl and wildlife refuge. During the winter, peak populations of 10,000 geese and 20,000 ducks may be seen in the area.
Charter Oak School
Schuline, Illinois
Owned by the Randolph County Historical Society, the Charter Oak School is one of the few remaining octagonal-shaped, one-room, school buildings in America. Open during the annual Corn Fest in August and by appointment.
Cohen Memorial Home
Chester, Illinois
The Cohen Home is a beautiful historical site located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Its unusual blue storm windows make it a very visible landmark for boats on the river and travelers approaching the Chester Bridge from Missouri.
Creole House
Prairie de Rocher, Illinois
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 by appointment.
Fort de Chartres State Historic Site
Prairie de Rocher, Illinois
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.
Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site
Ellis Grover, Illinois
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.
Governor Shadrach Bond Memorial
Chester, Illinois
Shadrach Bond was elected Illinois’ first Governor when Illinois was admitted as a State into the Union in 1818 to 1822. The monument that marks his grave site was funded with $1,500 from an 1881 legislative act. Evergreen Cemetery is also the location of the grave site of U.S. Senator Elias Kent Kane, Illinois' first Secretary of State and architect of the first state constitution.
Mission of the Immaculate Conception
Kaskaskia, Illinois
The Mission of the Immaculate Conception built its first stone church in the Kaskaskia area in 1714 and in 1720 became an established parish. In 1843 a brick church was completed in the squared-off French style with the bell tower over the center entrance. Because of flooding the church was moved in 1894 and rebuilt brick-by-brick in its present location with the bell spire was built over the side entrance.
Kaskaskia Bell State Historic Site
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Called the Liberty Bell of the West, the Kaskaskia Bell is older than the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. On July 4, 1778, during the American Revolution, the bell was rung to celebrate the liberation of Kaskaskia from the British by the American forces of George Rogers Clark and his Long Knives. The bell is currently housed in a brick building built by the State of Illinois in 1948.
Kaskaskia River Recreation Area
Randolph County, Illinois
Kaskaskia River Recreation Area is located at the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers. The area offers picnicking, hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. The site is the location of the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam which has a small visitors center and the staff offers tours of the lock and dam. The Confluence Heritage Area has a handicapped accessible 1/2 mile trail and an amphitheater along the river front for special programs.
Mary's River Covered Bridge
Randolph County, Illinois
This bridge was in continuous service from 1854 to 1930. In 1936 the bridge was acquired by the State of Illinois for purposes of preservation and a picnic area. Currently undergoing preservation work, The Mary’s River Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Southern Illinois and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site
Ellis Grove, Illinois
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.
Misselhorn Art Gallery
Sparta, Illinois
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.
Modoc Rock Shelter
Randolph County, Illinois
Approximately 2 miles southeast of Prairie du Rocher near the little village of Modoc is a rock cliff at the edge of the Mississippi River valley that was undercut by Ice Age floods. As far back as 9,000 years ago Native Americans had taken advantage of the shelter that the undercut section of the cliff provided. The site was discovered in 1951 by Irwin Peithmann, an archaeologist who was known for his self-taught craft and for living among Native Americans, becoming expert in their beliefs and customs.
Popeye Statue
Chester, Illinois
This 6 foot tall, 900 pound, bronze-metallic statue of Popeye was inspired by the fact that Segar, Popeye’s creator, was born in Chester and that many of the Popeye characters were modeled after real residents of the town. Each September the city organizes the Popeye Picnic to celebrate its famous citizens.
Randolph County Conservation Area
Randolph County, Illinois
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.
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Randolph County, Illinois
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area is a 2,264 acre natural area located south of Chester. The site offers a picnic area and features scenic overlooks. Visitors can hike, observe wildlife and take advantage of 10 miles of horseback trails. Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area is open for fishing and hunting.
Nearby Attractions
Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
Sainte 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.
Monroe County
The drive along the Great River Road through Monroe County features the rich farmland of the American Bottom, the tree-lined streets with the century-old buildings of its towns, and a number of historic sites that preserve the strong German and French heritage of the residents. The area also features a number of areas preserving and protecting nature.
For Travelers Heading Up River
The Metropolitan Saint Louis Area
Metropolitan Saint Louis has a lot to offer its visitors. The area's most prominent attraction is the Gateway Arch. Saint Louis has a number of outstanding public institutions that are free to visit including the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, and the Science Center. The Saint Louis region has a number of green spaces for nature and outdoor enthusiasts. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Faust County Park, in Saint Louis County, is home to many historical and cultural attractions including the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a historical village, and the Saint Louis Carousel. The county is also home to Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, the Powder Valley Conservation Area.
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.
For Travelers Heading Down River
The Mississippi Meets the Ohio River Region
After the Mississippi River passes St. Louis it begins to change character. When the Mississippi River meets the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois it is halfway on its journey to the sea. It is here that the brown muddy water of the Mississippi begins to mingle with the clearer water of the Ohio. Without the locks and dams the Mississippi begins to wind and curve so much so that the distance by water from Cape Girardeau to the Gulf of Mexico is twice the distance as a crow flies. The region where the Mississippi River meets the Ohio River is an area of transition in several respects both in terms of the flora and fauna but the culture begins to take on that of the Deep South. The Meeting the Ohio region of the Middle Mississippi River Valley offers it visitors a wide variety of options of activities to do and sites to see. Whether you’re looking for historical or cultural sites or a place to enjoy nature you’ll find it in this part of the country.
