Visitor's Guide
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VISITOR’S GUIDE EXPLORE EXPERIENCE ENJOY Jacksonville is full of the unexpected. WFrom our Civil elcom War and Abraham Lincoln e! connections to the modern businesses of today, the area offers something for everyone. There is a small-town friendliness mixed with a vibrancy of natural resources, educational institutions, and thriving businesses. CHICAGO 250 Miles QUAD CITIES 145 Miles CHAMPAIGN 120 Miles JACKSONVILLE H SPRINGFIELD 25 Miles ST. LOUIS 85 Miles CARBONDALE 181 Miles YOUR VISIT • ABOUT US BANQUETS & CONVENTIONS jacksonvilleil.org 2 WELCOME! Welcome to Jacksonville, Illinois, a community rich in historical treasures, thriving arts, education, and culture, all wrapped in Midwest hospitality. Centrally located between St. Louis and Chicago, and near Springfield, Jacksonville offers an excellent place to live, work, and play. This guide will help you get the most out of your visit to our area. We hope it will give you a taste of the history, attractions, events, entertainment, shopping, lodging, and dining in Jacksonville and the surrounding vicinity. More information is available at the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 310 East State Street in downtown Jacksonville. You can also call 217.243.5678 or 800.593.5678 if you have questions about planning your trip. Additional information is available at: jacksonvilleil.org Have a wonderful stay in Jacksonville and the neighboring communities! YOUR VISIT • ABOUT US 4 HISTORIC SITES 10 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 16 RECREATION & SHOPPING 20 SLEEP & EAT 30 BANQUETS & CONVENTIONS 38 EDUCATION 42 TRANSPORTATION & MAPS 45 3 I’m Here! NOW SAMPLE WHAT? ITINERARIES IN TOWN FOR ONE DAY? • Start your Jacksonville adventure off with a delicious breakfast from The Soap Co Coffee House (pg 22) in downtown Jacksonville. This quirky coffee house/gallery/store is a fun Soap Co. place to start your day. • Stop by the Eli Bridge Ferris Wheel (pg 23) for a picture in Community Park. The wheel is running on summer Sundays for a quick ride. Jacksonville is home to the Big Eli Ferris Wheel factory, so you’ll see lots of references to ferris wheels in our community. • Take in some history with a tour of Illinois College (pg 43), the oldest college in the state. The beautiful campus is an easy stroll, and you can pose for a photo with the Lincoln statue. • Do the Underground Railroad (pg 11) self- guided driving tour and end out at Woodlawn Farm (pg 12) for a guided tour of the farm. • Lunch at Mulligan’s (pg 35) downtown Play for All Park • Splash around at the Godfrey/Play for All Park (pg 25), a kid-friendly park with fountains and splash pads. • Cool off downtown at the Frozen Penguin (pg 37) for ice cream treats. • Take time to explore Central Park (pg 24) and the Civil War monument. • Enjoy the end of your day with the Looking for Lincoln Audio Tour (pg 16). This tour will take you to many of the significant historic sites throughout Jacksonville. • Don’t forget dinner! Enjoy pizza or Italian favorites at the Leo’s Pizza & Ristorante Italiano locally famous Leo’s Pizza & Ristorante Italiano (pg 35). • Need a place to stay? A comprehensive list of area lodging is available on page 30. 4 SAMPLE ITINERARIES YOUR VISIT YOUR IN TOWN FOR A SECOND DAY? We hope you’ve enjoyed the activities listed for day one. Time to see more that the Jacksonville area offers! • For a hearty breakfast, try Norma’s North Star Cafe (pg 35) just around the corner from the downtown square. • Head over to Governor Duncan Mansion (pg 12) for a tour. The mansion was home to the governor of Illinois during Abraham Lincoln’s tenure and is a unique piece of state history. Take time to explore Duncan Park. • While in the neighborhood, visit the Jacksonville Historic District and take part in our self-guided Historical Homes Walking Tour (pg 13). • Make some time for lunch at Annabel Lee’s Tea Room (pg 36) and finish with some antiquing in The Transfer Company Shops or Antiquarius (pg 23). • Take a tour of our WallDog Murals (pg 11) downtown. Our community history is shown through this collection of artwork created by a team of artists from around the world. • Walk our historic downtown and visit locally owned stores on “The Arts Corner” including Just Fair Trade, Our Town Books, and The Soap Co. Coffee House (pg 22). • Catch a round of golf or footgolf at Northridge Hills or play a round at The Links (pg 28). • Enjoy fine dining with dinner at Muggsy’s (pg 35). 5 IN TOWN FOR A HALF DAY? • After breakfast at SafeCo Donuts and Bakery (pg 37), head over to the Governor Duncan Duncan Mansion Mansion (pg 12) for a tour. • Discover the Underground Railroad self-guided driving tour (pg 11) which has several destinations and ends out at Woodlawn Farm for a guided tour of the farm. • Explore the city utilizing the Looking for Lincoln Audio Tour (pg 16). This tour takes you to the sites that Lincoln knew and provides audio to tell the stories of the people who influenced him during his time Lincoln Statue at Illinois College in Jacksonville. • Enjoy a specialty lunch or dinner at Shiraz (pg 35) or a more casual meal at Buffalo Wild Wings (pg 34). A full listing of restaurants is available on page 34. ROMANTIC GETAWAY? • Spend the night at Blessings On State Bed & Breakfast (pg 32) located in the heart of the historic district. This award- winning B&B recently won a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. • Check out the David Strawn Art Gallery (pg 22). Housed in an elegant antebellum mansion, the gallery hosts monthly exhibits and permanent collections including early Mississippian Native American pottery and the Miriam Cowgur Strawn Art Gallery Allen doll collection. • Catch one of the local theatre or music events. A listing is available on the calendar page at jacksonvilleil.org. • Have dinner at Lonzerotti’s Italian Restaurant located in a restored train depot. It’s been a Jacksonville favorite for generations (pg 35). 6 THE BEST! It’s a Bold Statement, but our area is honored to be host to many sights, restaurants, and events that are some of the best in the region. These stand-outs are marked with the ‘Best’ logo throughout this guide. BEST SIGHTS Governor Duncan Mansion Lincoln-era governor’s mansion. Page 12 Lake Jacksonville Voted #1 bass fishing lake.Page 29 Woodlawn Farm Underground Railroad Site Interpreted historic site. Page 12 Looking for Lincoln Sites Walk where Lincoln walked. Page 16 Godfrey Park/Play for All Park Accessible water play park. Page 25 David Strawn Art Gallery Gallery within a stately mansion. Page 22 BEST RESTAURANTS & LODGING Leo’s Pizza & Ristorante Italiano Local authentic favorite! Page 35 Lonzerotti’s Italian Restaurant Dine in a historic train station. Page 35 Blessings On State Bed and Breakfast Nationally awarded B&B. Page 32 BEST EVENTS Prairie Land Heritage Museum Steam Show & Fall Festival Days A festival of farming, antique farm equipment, flea market, and history. Page 13 Cruise Night and Car Show One of the largest cruise events in Illinois. Details at jacksonvilleil.org 7 Duncan Mansion Downtown Jacksonville istory lives in Morgan County! HMorgan County was established in 1823 and named for General Daniel Morgan, a Revolutionary War hero. In 1825, the Morgan County surveyors staked out land at the center of a 160-acre tract, and the seat of government was established in the new town of Jacksonville. Thanks to early settlers Alexander Cox, Joseph Fairfield, and George Hackett, the Jacksonville town square quickly developed. Education was always a primary concern for city founders. Illinois College was founded in 1829. The Reverend John M. Ellis, a Presbyterian missionary in the West, felt the need for a “seminary of learning” in the new state. His plans came to the attention of a group of Congregational students at Yale University. Seven of them, in one of the now famous “Yale Bands,” came westward to help establish the college. As one of the earliest institutions of learning in the Midwest, the college was named after the state in which it was located, and the first president of the college was Edward Beecher, brother of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe. The courthouse was built on the square, churches were constructed, railways were planned, and before long, stores and taverns were flourishing. Jacksonville had the largest population in the state in 1834, outnumbering even Chicago. Morgan County Courthouse 8 HISTORY Illinois College Jacksonville’s educational foundation grew stronger with the Illinois School for the Deaf, the School for the Blind (later Illinois School for the Visually Impaired), and the Illinois Conference Female Academy (later MacMurray College), in addition to the public schools. By 1850, Illinois College had conferred Illinois’ first college degrees and opened the first medical school in the state. Because of this commitment to education, many referred to the community as “The Athens of the West.” Beginning with Capps Woolen Mills, established in 1839, other businesses started to locate in Jacksonville because of the excellent economic climate and convenient access for transporting goods. Farmers appreciated the fertile soil, and agriculture enriched the economy as well. In 1900, W.E. Sullivan, founder of the Eli Bridge Company, introduced the “Big Eli” ferris wheel on the Jacksonville square. In 1919, the company relocated to the city. It is the world’s oldest manufacturer of ferris wheels and other amusement rides. Jacksonville has contributed three governors to the state: Joseph Duncan, Richard Yates, and Richard Yates, Jr. Governor Duncan’s home still stands on West State Street.