Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail Lock 14 Park

 The canal was completed in 1848 to connect the Chicago River  to the Illinois River, creating a continuous waterway from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois River to the Mississippi River. In twenty years, Chicago, formerly a small prairie town of a few thousand people, grew to be the busiest port in the US with a population of over 300,000. The canal was used until 1933 even though a parallel rail line was built in 1853. 

Today visitors can hike or bike along 60 miles of the canal trail. We parked at Lock 14 near the western end of the trail at La Salle, Illinois. A small park has interpretive signs and metal silhouettes of notable river travelers. During the summer visitors can take a short trip on the canal boat that's docked at the lock but this is the last year for the boat rides because the it's for sale - not surprising as it's in poor condition. 

We walked/rolled about two miles heading east along the trail. The trail is level and in fairly good condition. 

 

RVs will fit in the lot. Trail  41.32616, -89.09437

 

Amboy Depot Museum

 The museum complex consists of a fully restored, two story, 1876 brick depot; a building used to store freight; a relocated one room schoolhouse; and a steam locomotive and caboose. All of the buildings have exhibits. Abraham Lincoln stopped for a hair cut in Amboy so there he is, reclining in the barber chair with his hat still on. 

The complex is party accessible. The first floor of the depot is accessible, although the entryway has a slope and the outward opening door makes entering awkward. The school house has a ramp. The freight house has steps and no ramp. The walkway connecting the buildings is brick and bumpy and uneven in spots. 

The parking lot is large enough for any vehicle. Museum 41.71359, -89.33181

 

Fort Massac Visitor Center

The fort area has a long history starting in the 1540s when Hernando DeSoto and his soldiers  built a fortification to protect against attacks by the local Native Americans who understandably were not friendly. During the French and Indian War the French built Fort De L’Ascension. Fort De L’Ascension was abandoned in 1763 and burnt down by the Chickasaws. After the Revolutionary War, the fort was rebuilt by the US military. It provided protection for twenty years before being dismantled for timber. The last time soldiers were stationed on the grounds was during the Civil War when it was used as a training camp. 

In 2002 a replica of the 1802 American fort was constructed. The buildings need structural repairs and are not open but visitors can view them from the path. Continue on the path for a view of the river with evidence of the latest flood. The small visitor center has very good exhibits.

The visitor center is accessible. The paved path to the fort and river view is accessible with one damaged area that hasn't been repaired yet. The paved path to the outline of the 1757 French Fort and the statue of George Rodgers Clark is accessible until it reaches the grass. 

There are three large parking lots where any vehicle will fit.  Fort  37.14475, -88.71198

 

Harrah's Casino Metropolis

This was a riverboat casino but the laws were changed several times and now casinos in Illinois are permitted to be built on land. Riverboats tend to be cramped so this change is good for visitors using wheelchairs.

The parking lot is large and level. Parking close to the river will give you a view of the barges on the river and the trains on the bridge. We parked far away because of a horrible stench of dead fish. A local man told us the smell was common in the spring when the river ran high and fast, and the fish were battered as they went over the dams. No need to check in.

The Superman statue and the Super Museum are an easy 1/3 mile walk up Ferry Street. It's slightly uphill so wheelchair users may need assistance but the sidewalk and curb cuts are in good condition. Casino  37.14754, -88.7358

 

Super Museum

All Superman fans know that he lived in Metropolis, however, little Metropolis, Illinois is hardly the large, prosperous city pictured in the comic books and movies but it is the perfect spot for Jim Hambrick enormous collection of Superman memorabilia. Hambrick's collection started with a Superman lunch box that his mother gave him for his fifth birthday. His collection now has over 70,000 items with original movie props and costumes plus almost every type of toy ever produced. 

The gift shop is packed with all kinds of stuff so that you can start your own collection!.

There's also a huge bronze Superman statue across the street.

The museum is mostly accessible. It meanders and there are a few narrow spots where large wheelchairs may not fit. One small room has a step up.

Parking is available on the street. Museum  37.15244, -88.73243

 

 

Bishop Hill Museum

Bishop Hill was founded 1846 by Swedish immigrants in an attempt to create a utopian, communal society. They had followed Erik Jansson from Sweden to Illinois believing that his teachings came directly from God. They arrived too late in the year to plant crops and 98 people died the first winter but the settlement grew and became successful with 12,000 acres under cultivation and 20 commercial buildings erected. Jansson was murdered in 1850 by John Root, who was married to Jansson's cousin. She wanted to stay in the community, he wanted to leave, and Jansson sided with her. After the murder a board of seven trustees managed the community. Bad investments by one of the trustees led to an economical collapse which caused the community to dissolve in 1861. Today the population is only 113 but many of the original buildings are still standing and house shops, restaurants, and museums. 

Four buildings are owned by the State of Illinois plus there are other buildings open to the public to tour. There isn't good signage in the town and we wandered around looking for the main museum, not realizing that the historic exhibits are in the Steeple Building. Download this map before visiting. 

 

We eventually found the Bishop Hill Museum which has an exhibit of the artwork of Olof Krans. Twelve year old Olaf came to Bishop Hill in 1850 with his parents. He started painting memories of his childhood in 1896 while he was recovering from a fall. The docent was a wealth of information and filled us in on the town's history. We stayed so long talking with him that we missed the other buildings. 

The museum is accessible. 

The parking lot is large enough for any RV. Parking is available on the streets if you want to visit the rest of the town. Bishop Hill  41.1961, -90.11957

 

Henry County Historical Museum

An old school has been renovated to serve as the museum so exhibits fill the classrooms and line the hallway. Donated items have been grouped together to portray life in the early days but the exhibits don't include much history or information on the items. 

 

The museum is accessible.

Parking is available on the street. Museum 41.19905, -90.12119