Starved Rock State Park, along the Illinois River in La Salle County, is one of the most scenic and beautiful destinations in Illinois. It was designated as Illinois' second state park in 1911 and in 1966 designated as a National Historic Landmark. The state park's unusual name was derived from a man who died of starvation at a great rock after a battle. Starved Rock State Park attracts up to 2.8 million visitors yearly and has many sights to see in it and around it, and here are 10 of them.
10 Hegeler Carus Mansion
Built from 1874 to 1876, the majestic Hegeler Carus Mansion is a National Historic Landmark that, to date, retains its original look. The mansion was a family home for Camilla and Edward Carl Hegeler, an affluent industrialist and publisher. Hegeler Carus Mansion's elaborate Victorian-era architecture and interior design illustrate the historical, and artistic achievements of that era. An hour of a general tour of the Hegeler Carus Mansion is $15 for adults and $5 for students.
9 LaSalle County Historical Society Museum
At the heart of downtown, North Utica village is the LaSalle County Historical Society museum, which has five historical facilities for visitors to tour. These are the Canal Warehouse, the Heritage Center, One Room School House, the Blacksmith Shop, and an 1875 Barn. Famous exhibits at LaSalle County Historical Society museum include the horse-drawn Abraham Lincoln Carriage he rode to debates and virtual and photographic of Sunny "Jim" Bottomley, a baseball player. No admission fee is charged to this museum, but donations are encouraged. The museum is open to visitors from Friday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 4 pm.
8 Reddick Mansion
Politician and businessman William Reddick commissioned the 22-room Reddick Mansion in 1855, which was built from 1856 to 1858 at a reported cost of $25,000. It has Italian architecture and was arguably the most pricey and beautiful private home built in Illinois prior to the Civil War. The Reddick Mansion was home to the Reddick family for nearly 30 years. By touring the mansion, visitors understand the Reddick family's 19th-century lifestyle through the interior layout and intricate decorations. Admission fee for adults is $12 and $10 for students, and mansion tours are done on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 11 am to 1 pm.
7 Hiking Trails
Starved Rock State Park's main attractions are 13 miles of trail plus the spectacular bluffs and canyons dotting the scenic and lush landscape. These hiking trails are open all year for visitors, and along the way, there are maps that guide hikers. Hikers can bring their dogs, but they have to be leashed. Any dog waste and trash need to be disposed of in trash cans, and drinking water from creeks, rivers,s and waterfalls is prohibited. The Visitors Center, where hikers set off, is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, but the park opens from 7 am to sunset.
6 William D. Boyce Grave Memorial
Ottawa, Illinois resident who pioneered the boy scouts movement in America William Dickson Boyce (June 16, 1858 – June 11, 1929) had a bronze statue erected in his honor where his grave is. Boyce is buried at the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery, among other people who contributed to Ottawa's rich history, like politician William Reddick and Scottish-American abolitionist John Hossack. Boyce's towering statue attracts visitors who take photos with it.
5 Illinois And Michigan Canal Visitor Center
A 70-passenger mule "pulled" 1840s 'Volunteer' replica canal boat that cruises up and down the Illinois and Michigan Canal is a favorite with visitors. The one-hour cruise with a mule escort takes historians, nature lovers, and photographers past historic Illinois. The canal in the 1840s linked the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, and past tales about the canal are narrated by period-dressed guides aboard. Adults are charged $20, and children aged 4 to 16 years are charged $9, while seniors 62 years and over are charged $17 to ride the Volunteer.
4 Weber House And Garden
Built in 1938, the Weber House was initially a family home for the Weber family and sits on two acres of land at Streator, Illinois. The house has a Storybook and Tudor architecture and is surrounded by an English-style Weber Garden. The garden has ten designs and themed gardens with diverse flowers, plants, and trees. From April to October, the Weber House and Garden are open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm for tours, and the admission fee is $15. Today Weber Gardens serves mostly as a wedding and photo shoot venue.
3 Ottawa Historical And Scouting Museum
The Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum preserves the history of Ottawa, Camp Fire, and boy, lone, and girl scouts and is operated by volunteers. In 2002, a new exhibit was opened at the museum with artifacts and pictures of Ottawa's past and rich history, and there are youth educational programs too. Ottawa Historical and Scouting Museum opens on Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 4 pm.
2 The Westclox Museum
In Peru, Illinois, the Westclox Museum archives the history of the Western Clock Company, founded in 1885 and once the largest manufacturer of key wound clocks in the world. At the museum, there are collections of Tick Talk Magazines with stories of thousands of employees who worked at the Westclox factory. On display are photos of antiques and many unique and antique clocks that chronicle the history of the defunct Westclox Company. The museum opens on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, and admission is free, but donations are welcome.
1 Washington Square Park (Ottawa, Illinois)
The historic senatorial debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas occurred at Washington Square Park on August 21, 1858. That historic debate was part of a series of seven debates, and an estimated 20,000 people watched. Today the landscaped site of the debate is marked with a boulder, plaque, and fountain, plus two bronze statues of the two famous men.