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Cahokia Mounds
2,200 acres
Shawnee National Forest
270,000 acres
~"Garden of the Gods"
~ River To River
Pere Marquette Park
8,000 acres
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Cahokia Mounds
30 Ramey Street Collinsville, IL 62234 618-346-5160
The Mississippians who lived here were accomplished builders, this is the most sophisticated prehistoric Native American society north of Mexico.
Shawnee National Forest
West side, Murphysboro Ranger Station 618-687-1731
The Shawnee National Forest, between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, the Ozark and Shawnee Hills, has 7 wilderness areas. Pere Marquette State Park
Clark Bridge, Great River Road 20 mi. 618-786-3323.
Enjoy the scenic view of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers from several points atop the bluffs.
Historic Sites in Southern Illinois
Mary's Covered Bridge
Just off Illinois Route 150 out of Chester
The Mary's Covered Bridge was built by Wilhelm Misselhorn from Germany, in 1854. The covered bridge, over Little Mary's River, has a 90-foot span. Originally it was part of a planned toll road between Bremen and Chester. Most of the original timber, from native white oak timbers in a Burr arch design, is still preserved even though the bridge was in continuous service from 1854 to 1930. It is the only bridge of its kind left in Southern Illinois.
Fort de Chartres III
State RTE 155, 4 mi. West of Prairie du Rocher or 37 mi. south of Belleville. R.R. 2. Prairie du Rocher, IL 62277. 618-284-7230.
This limestone fortress, 15 feet high and 3 feet thick, encompassing 4 acres, built with a lookout platform above two fifteen feet arched gateways, and a sentry box at the corner of each bastion. Built by the French in between 1753-1756. The north wall and guardhouse have been reconstructed, in 1913. The powder magazine is the original building making it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Illinois. There are two wooden stockades. Fort de Chartres is the most of French Colonial history in the U.S.
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Pierre Menard Home
State Route 3., Fort Kaskaskia Rd. R.R.1 Box 58. Ellis Grove, IL 62241. 618-859-3031.
The Pierre Menard Home of the first Lieutenant Governor in the early 1800s and is considered one of the finest example of Southwestern French Colonial architecture.The Great River Road.
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Fort Kaskaskia - The Liberty Bell of the West
Route 3. Fort Kaskaskia Rd., 4372 Park Road. Ellis Grove, IL 62241. 618-859-3741.
Kaskaskia is Illinois’ first capital. Due to the Mississippi River changing course in 1881, a 14,000 acre piece of Illinois is now on the Missouri side and is known as Kaskaskia Island.
The Fort offers a spectacular panoramic view, over 200 acres situated on a bluff overlooking, Kaskaskia Island and the Mississippi River. Fort Kaskaskia is now only shown by the earthworks. During the French-Indian War (1854-63) French inhabitants feared an attack and petioned for the fort. The Fort was built of heavy palisades overlooking town. The townspeople destroyed the fort, in 1776, to prevent the British from using it. On the Island you can see the Kaskaskia Bell, the "Liberty Bell of the West" which was given to Illinois by the King of France in 1741. The bell rang on July 4, 1778 to celebrate the villages liberation from the British by George Rogers. The Great River Road.
Elzie C. Segar Park - Chester
IL-150 or MO-51 to the Mississippi river.
 The 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 year the city of Chester organizes the Popeye Picnic to celebrate its famous citizens.
The Popeye Statue is located at the foot of the Chester Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River in Elzie C. Segar Memorial Park.The Great River Road.
Scenic Illinois~NatureWalks
The Waters :: The Great Lakes & Navy Pier
Navy Pier and
The Great Lakes
Lake Michigan, Huron, Erie, Superior and Ontario
Chicagos Lakefront - Leonne, Belmont & North Ave.
Lake Caryle - more swimming
Illinois Department Of Natural Resources. & enjoy illinois
& explore chicago!
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