The Prairie and Prosperity of Illinois

The Land of Lincoln sprawls over 56,400 square-miles primarily of prairie, but half of its
population of 12 million is concentrated in the greater Chicago area. Let’s explore the five
regions of downstate and then discover Chicagoland.

Southern

This region is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, which is a 25-mile trail through the Shawnee National Forest that visits five wineries. They are Alto Vineyards, Owl Creek Vineyards, Wing hill Vineyard, Von Jakob Vineyard and Pomona Winery. The newest winery is the new Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda, a Tuscan-themed winery
featuring a 360-degree mural in its tasting room. Many of the wineries stage special events during September, which is Illinois Wine Month. Nearby Metropolis is the official adopted “Home of Superman.” Stop for a photo with the 15 foot tall Superman statue and cross the street for the Super Museum, featuring Superman memorabilia and props. There is a Superman Celebration here each June, with superhero-themed entertainment and celebrity appearances.

Southwest

More than 1,000 eagles migrate to the Alton and Grafton areas to spend the winter on the bluffs along the Great River Road. Pere Marquette State Park offers eagle-watching programs from late December through February. The new National Great Rivers Museum in Alton tells the story of the Mississippi River through over 20 interactive, animated displays. Tours of the Melville Locks and Dam allow guests to view the river traffic from atop the eight-story dam. Nearby, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Hartford tells the story of the famous journey that began in Illinois. Groups can explore a full-scale model of one of their keelboats, watch a film entitled “At Journey’s Edge” and view a replica of Camp River Dubois.

West

The Illinois River Road Scenic Byway, a natural preserve along the banks of the Illinois River, was recently designated a National Scenic Byway. The byway allows visitors to travel the routes of the French voyageurs and it parallels the Illinois River Country Nature Trail, a chain of over one hundred linked nature sites that offer outdoor recreation. Along the route is Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewiston that traces the 12,000-year history of Native Americans in the Illinois River Valley in one of the finest on-site archaeological museums in the country.

Central

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are one of the most important tourism sites to open in the state for many years. The 100,000-square-foot museum uses technology to bring the 19th century alive. “Ghosts of the Library” is a Holavision show that uses an actor and high-tech ghost images to tell the mystery and discovery in historical archives. The Whispering Gallery shows caricatures of Lincoln as voices whisper of negative stories about the Lincolns. The Emancipation Proclamation underscores the divisions within the nation. At the library are such key documents as a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, a copy of the 13th Amendment, 400 letters written by Mary Todd Lincoln and the only photo of Lincoln lying in state. Springfield also features Lincoln’s Home, Lincoln’s Tomb, the Old State Capitol and nearby Lincoln’s New Salem.

North

The Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford is home to Jane, a juvenile T. rex and the best-preserved, most complete specimen known, found by the museum’s staff in Montana. Considered one of the most important dinosaur discoveries of the past 100 years, Jane is offering important evidence of how dinosaurs grew and about the period in which it lived.