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Illinois Travel

Illinois was the place where the sky began, the place where new settlers emerged from the shadows of the eastern woodlands into a vast, sun-drenched plain. Here, standing at the edge of an ocean of grass, Americans got their first, awestruck glimpse of the immense fertility of the continent, the abundance that lay like God’s promise over the land. At last freed of the forest, the sky unfurled and the land rolled on to infinity — flat, free, destined for the plow. Here, they knew, the East ends and the West begins.

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Illinois

Anyone interested in Abraham Lincoln would enjoy a stop at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in east-central Illinois.

Bishop Hill, Illinois

I first visited tiny Bishop Hill, nestled in the heart of northwestern Illinois farmland, about 35 years ago. Totally charmed by its story, historic buildings and quaint shops, I eventually moved here.

Prairie Mills Windmill, Illinois

Here in Golden, Illinois, we're very proud of our Prairie Mills Windmill.

Built in 1872, this 92-foot-tall landmark is one of only four Dutch-style smock windmills left in Illinois. It operated until the 1930s and was recently restored to working condition by the Golden Historical Society. I'm sure the original wooden gears and huge millstones, one of which weighs 5,000 pounds, will impress you!