There Is A Tiny 1800s Village Hiding In The Middle Of The Countryside In Southern Illinois
By Linze Rice|Published July 18, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Reading a history book or watching a documentary can be helpful in understanding the past, but it can’t quite do justice to what life was really like then. And let’s be real, there is a LOT of interesting history in Illinois to get caught up on! That’s why I love looking to local historical societies to see what artifacts, tours, and events they have to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find this hidden historical village in Mt. Vernon, Illinois offered all three!
The Jefferson County Historical Village is located on the northwestern edge of the charming Southern Illinois town of Mt. Vernon. Envisioned in 1990, the village has grown into an educational and entertaining outdoor museum that showcases what life was like for area residents in the 1800s.
The village is open on weekends between May and October and admission is free, though donations help maintain the museum.
Entering the village is like stepping back into the early pioneer days — a more simple and rugged time when reliance on technology was essentially nonexistent. The area consists of 19 buildings, as well as several trails, a nearby cemetery, and an indoor museum.
While some of the buildings have been recreated, some have been rebuilt using donated historic materials, while others have been relocated entirely. The medical building here is made from two area families' cabins and its contents were donated by local dentists and doctors.
There are also two convenient trails filled with informative signage that help you explore the grounds. The Time Line Trail has 24 signs that tell of important local historical events, and the Kitty Irvin Trail contains a small gravesite.
Each trail takes you through forested land, filled with lush trees and wild fruit.
Often, volunteers are on hand to not only show off the village, but the actual lifestyle that early settlers abided by. You may see (or get to try!) weaving, blacksmithing, wood carving, basket making, and more.
Throughout the year, the village hosts a number of community events, such as the Heritage Festival, which includes tours of the village, antiques, local vendors, old-fashioned foods, crafts, historical demonstrations, kids' activities, and more.
