Illinois State Parks|Travel

6/3/2017 Cahokia Mounds (State Historic Site with Kiosk). The site of a pre-Columbian Native American city (c. 600–1400 CE), covering 2200 acres and containing about 80 mounds. Luckily the grounds are open through the evening, so we could walk some of the trails and check out the varying size mounds. We would have liked to climb the very tall and impressive one, but we simply didn't have time. Also, the weather was more uncomfortable than it has been - nice sun but more humid and reaching 91.

The park sign

Park info ...

... and me reading National Road info

Looking at the mounds area

Another view

An idea of what used to be here

Monks Mound

10/16/2021 ... and headed to nearby Bloomington for David Davis House NHL and SHS (in the Abraham Lincoln NHA). This Italianate villa-style Victorian home was the residence of the Supreme Court justice and Senator from Illinois. The home, in very attractive yellow stone, looked particularly nice in the morning sun and blue skies.

The park sign ...

... and info

Various views ...

... of the mansion ...

... in the sun

One more ...

... and some detail

3/27/2025 we stopped at Fort Chartres NHL and SHS; to get there we strayed off from the GRR and picked it up again after leaving. The fort was a French fortification first built in 1720 on the east bank of the Mississippi River and was used as the administrative center for the province, which was part of New France. The large partially reconstructed fort took us a while to walk to and around, but had some attractive elements to it that we enjoyed photoing. Although we didn’t spot the sign, the NPS indicates that the fort is on the L&C NHT – “In his journal, Clark noted the stone ruins of Fort De Chartres.”

The park sign

Nice little area out front ...

... with fort info

The original fort layout

Heading to the main gate ...

... with serious looking guards

Almost in

A view along a wall ...

... and Ken from the main tower

Some original foundations

Me and Ken by the gate

Attractive looking ...

... old buildings

A last look along a wall

xxx

3/27/2025 A short distance away we stopped in Fort Kaskaskia SHS (GRR). We did see info about the Fort - the French settlers in North America raised Fort Kaskaskia around 1759; the fort stood atop the bluff that looked down upon the frontier village. However, at a nice overlook above the Mississippi we found the L&C NHT info we targeted (Menard House is also on the NHT). Signage here also by the DAR.

The park sign ...

... with NHT emblem

Another sign

A beautiful view ...

... with DAR plaques

A nice panorama of the Mississippi

More info about ...

Lewis & Clark

A great view (and me and Ken)

Signage about the fort

Only mounds left of the fort

A closer view of the area

7/28/2006 ... then drove a short way to Oak Ridge Cemetery and Lincoln’s Tomb State Historic Site [Lincoln Tomb NHL]. Large memorial building with obelisk; inside saw the headstone (grave deep beneath) and tomb of Mary Lincoln and two children.

The park sign

A view of the monument

Some statue detail

Lincoln bust

Abe's tomb ...

... and his wife's

Just like in DC

10/16/2021 We then continued to Oak Ridge Cemetery for a visit at the Lincoln Tomb NHL and SHS (in the Abraham Lincoln NHA), the final resting place of the President, taking our photos outside and going inside. There are a number of bronze statues of Lincoln and of course the marble sarcophagus that used to be his tomb, but which is now over his tomb in a vault in the ground below.

A view of the monument ...

... and close up

Big Abe bust

Good luck!

Shiny nose

A younger Abe ...

... and older

The tomb area

The sarcophagus

Classic statue

10/17/2021 Adjacent on one side is Nicholas Jarrot Mansion NHL and SHS. Built in 1807–1810 for the son of French colonists, it is a rare example of Federal architecture in the upper Mississippi River valley, noted for its odd look due to inexperienced masons. We enjoyed checking out the rather wonky brickwork that made the whole front look a little wavy.

The park sign ...

... with a view to the mansion

A couple of views ...

... of the front

A look inside

See the wonky front?

A little uneven

10/16/2021 Old State Capitol NHL and SHS, in the Abraham Lincoln NHA. This is the fifth Illinois capitol building, built in the Greek Revival style and serving as the state house from 1840 to 1876; Abraham Lincoln announced his Presidential candidacy here. As sometime happens with us the nice dome was covered with scaffolding - oh well.

The park area ...

... and a 3/4 view

A front view ...

... with close-up

3/27/2025 ... as we continued to Ellis Grove and the Pierre Menard House NHL and SHS (GRR). This was the home of the fur trader and first lieutenant governor of Illinois from 1818 to 1822. Just a photo-op of the large home right at the levee along the Mississippi, where we noted signage placed by the DAR.

The park sign ...

... at the house

One side, river to the left

The DAR plaque

Some of the out-buildings

Two views ...

... from the river side

10/16/2021 Susan Lawrence Dana House NHL and SHS. A 1902 home in Prairie School style designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the heiress and patron, it reflects their mutual affection for organic architecture, the relatively flat landscape of Illinois, and the Japanese aesthetic.

A side view ...

... and classic detail

Around the front ...

... and continuing ...

... to the other side

More detail

Ken and me

10/16/2021 Vachel Lindsay House NHL and SHS. Built in 1848, this was the 1879 birthplace and lifelong home of poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsay.

The park sign ...

... and the house

A couple of ...

... front views