The Heart of Spoon River Country
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Fulton County,Illinois Visitor’s Guide The Heart of Spoon River Country www.fultonco.org Welcome to Fulton County Illinois Lewistown Visitors Center Canton Friendship Festival Buckeye Church Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge The Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve We packed our belongings and left our home, although Canton soon grew to be the largest heading west to claim the land father was promised town in the area. by the government. We knew little of the place Fulton County was named for Robert Canton Cruise In and Bike Show we were heading except that it was a wilderness Fulton the inventor of the first successful Credits A special thanks to the Fulton County Board for their vision and and said to be full of Indians. Thus began our steamboat, the Clermont, which first sailed in determination to make Fulton County a place we can all be proud of. Additional thanks and appreciation to the Fulton County Board journey into the heart of Spoon River Country. 1807. Between 1823 and 1825 the majority Economic Development and Tourism Committee, University of Illinois In 1812, an act of Congress set aside bounty of Illinois north of the Illinois River was under Extension--Fulton County, and the Illinois State Museum--Dickson Mounds. Without their support and efforts in bringing this project lands between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers the jurisdiction of Fulton County. This included together, this guide would not be possible. Original printing funded as payment to volunteer soldiers like father who the current site of Chicago. in part by a grant from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism in 2008, prepared by Angie Sanders. served in the war against the British (War of We found that the land was much better Publisher: Havana Printing, Havana, Illinois. Third print- ing © 2014 Fulton County Board. All rights reserved. Project 1812). After the land was surveyed settlement here than from where we had last lived. There coordination, research, writing, and editing by Kevin McGuire, of the area could begin. In 1818, the land was were also roving bands of Indians of the Sauk, University of Illinois Extension--Fulton County. Graphic design and layout, research, writing, and editing by Kelvin Sampson, declared part of the State of Illinois. The first Fox, and Potowattomi tribes. As we cleared Illinois State Museum--Dickson Mounds Museum. Specific the ground we found the remains of more ancient content development assistance provided by Gayle Blodgett, white settler arrived in 1820 near the mouth Joan Johnson-Blackwell, Alan Harn, Mark Lynch, Victoria of the Spoon River where a small village called inhabitants of the area. Harper, Jeff Harris, Doreen Shaw, and Stacey Stacy. Pho- tography by Bill Burnham, Mark Dolejs, Elizabeth Gray, Max Waterford was established. The work was hard but we transformed Latimer, Kevin McGuire, Mike Russell, Kelvin Sampson, Jo As more settlers arrived they spread out this wilderness and made a living working the Skoglund, Dana Smith, and Kevin Wright. across the land and the towns of Lewistown and land. We soon came to love this place in the For visitor information and additional copies of this guide, call 309-547-3721. Also visit www.fultonco.org for more Canton, were founded in 1821 and 1825. Lewistown heart of Spoon River Country called Fulton information on Fulton County. was designated as the Fulton County seat in 1823 County. The Heart of Spoon River Country Home to nearly thirty-seven thousand and visited by tens and tens of thou- sands more, we welcome you to Fulton County. Known as Spoon River Country to many, the gently flowing Spoon River winds its way through scenic vistas and villages from London Mills to the Illinois River near Havana. As summer fades, the annual “The Spoon River Scenic Drive Fall Festival” follows bucolic byways as tens of thousands visit hundreds of stands offering everything from A(apples) to Z (zoo). The Illinois River is our southern border, flowing from Banner Marsh past Rice Lake, the giant Emiquon Preserve, to Anderson Lake on the southern end. Together with Spring Lake, Chautauqua, and the lake at Snicarte just across the Illinois River, they form an inland water world second only to the Everglades. Whether you fish, hunt waterfowl, bird watch, or just enjoy the scenery along the “Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway” its worth your time to visit us. Just above Emiquon, thousands visit Dickson Mounds Museum to learn about the history of the Illinois River and the by-gone tribes of Mound Building Indians, and to enjoy the scenic overlook of Emiquon and Illinois River. History buffs also enjoy the Easley Pioneer Museum in Ipava, Rasmussen Blacksmith Shop and Museum in Lewistown, stately 1800’s mansions, country cemeteries, iron bridges, and much more. Fulton County is one of the top fishing destinations in the state for Large- Mouth Bass, Crappies, and Catfish with its thousands of acres of water. The Welcome to Fulton County Illinois county is also a nation-wide destination for White-Tailed deer hunting, turkey, and other upland game. We also have a growing population of wild boar along the Spoon River water course. If you hunt, fish, bird watch, are a history buff, or just enjoy beautiful scenery, good food, and friendly people, come and spend a day, or a week, or two. Hope you enjoy us. Bob Bucher Bob Bucher Fulton County Board Chairman Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival The Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve 4 8 Contents 10 Explore the Past 14 Encounter Arts 16 Enjoy the Outdoors 21 Experience Communities 24 Map Enjoy Festivals Visitor Services Explore the Past Archaeology school. A contingent of gifted students who received instruc- and Dickson Mounds tion here would go on to be- Early History In 1927, Dr. Don F. Dickson, come leaders in American and The early history of central a chiropractor, began an explo- world archaeology. Because Illinois, including Fulton County, ration of an Indian burial site on of this pioneering contribution is little more than legend, depict- land owned by his father. That to the science of archaeology, ing prehistoric Indians, French work would have far-reaching Fulton County is often referred explorers, Indian tribes, and ear- effects on American archaeol- to as the “Birthplace of Modern ly white settlers. For decades ogy. Using a new technique American Archaeology.” accounts have passed from of uncovering the remains but A new museum of anthro- generation to generation keep- leaving them intact in the ground pology was dedicated at Dick- ing this heritage alive. These for study, Dickson and his rela- son Mounds in 1972, and it legends are an integral part of tives excavated a 30 by 60 foot continues to be a leading center personal affiliations in the lives area of the cem- for archaeological Did You Know . of Fulton County residents. As etery, exposing research and in- MAJOR ISAIAH STILLMAN was born a recognized center of historical the skeletons of terpretation. This in Massachusetts in 1793. He came and cultural interest, the area is 247 Indian burials facility is one of to Illinois as a trader and huckster of pots and pans renowned for Native American and their accom- the premier on- and other notions. archaeology, agricultural evolu- panying grave site archaeologi- He resided at the Copperas Creek tion, literary achievements, and offerings. These cal museums in landing in Fulton many other distinctive events. were protected the United States. County, near present day Banner, where under a museum Through continuing he had a warehouse building which, research, innova- and trading post. By 1832 he had advanced to the rank of Early Inhabitants despite its set- tive exhibits, edu- Brigadier General elect, responsible for ting in a remote cational programs, defense of all the vast emptiness west of Fulton County was home the Illinois River. In April of 1832 he was to one of the highest concen- location and its Dr. Don Dickson field trips, lectures ordered to raise a command which he opening during by authorities on a led during the Black Hawk War inclu ding trations of prehistoric man in the first engagement called The Battle the Americas, with more than a time of failing na- variety of natural and of Stillman’s Run. During this battle tional economy, attracted over cultural topics, visitors to Dick- Stillman and his detachment of 275 were 3,000 sites of ancient people defeated by a smaller group of warriors recorded here. Hundreds of 90,000 visitors in its first two son Mounds Museum are pro- causing them to retreat suffering 12 years of operation. Conducted vided with a unique opportunity casualties. Abraham Lincoln was one earthen mounds represent sites of the soldiers who assisted in collecting of ceremony, burial, and living, at the same time as the sensa- to experience the developing and burying the bodies the day after the tional excavation of Tutankha- story of man in Illinois. battle. After Stillman’s Run, the Illinois littered with the debris of centu- Militia would never recover. Fifteen ries of Native American occupa- men’s tomb in Egypt, these The Dickson Mounds Mu- days later Stillman’s Illinois Militia was Fulton County excavations im- seum 8 , also a branch of the discharged from service by the Governor tion. The rich archaeological of Illinois, who had determined they were heritage of Fulton County was mediately attracted national and Illinois State Museum and a too demoralized and undisciplined to be international attention, including National Register Historic Site, able to successfully carry out an Indian almost immediately noticed by campaign. Europeans who began settling features in Ripley’s Believe it or offers a unique opportunity to the region around 1820.