This Epic Road Trip Leads To 7 Iconic Landmarks In Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published January 05, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
From natural attractions to historic sites, landmarks come in a variety of forms. These are the most recognizable features of a particular city, town, or state. Have you ever wanted to visit several iconic landmarks in Illinois in one trip? We have put together a road trip featuring seven places and we think it gives a good variety of the incredible places you may find around the state.
This road trip covers 244 miles and will take almost five hours of drive time to complete the route. Feel free to break it up into two trips or spend the night halfway through the route. You can use this interactive map to guide you and add your own stops along the way. Now, gas up the car and get going!
Also known as "The Bean," Cloud Gate is an iconic sculpture set within Chicago's Millennium Park. This public art piece was created by artist Anish Kapoor and reflects the city and sky throughout the day. It's perhaps the most visited landmark in the city. Learn more about Cloud Gate and Millennium Park on the City of Chicago website.
There are no other architectural marvels quite like what Frank Lloyd Wright designed over the course of his life, and that includes the Frederick C. Robie House. It was built in the Prairie style in 1909 and is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark. You can learn more about the Robie House and several other Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in Illinois in our previous coverage.
Considered the best state park in Illinois, Starved Rock encompasses over 2,600 acres that can be explored via 13 miles of trails. Additionally, there are 18 canyons, many of which have a waterfall. The sheer beauty of Starved Rock must be seen to be believed! If you would like to spend more time exploring this state park, spend the night at Starved Rock Lodge.
You may not think a scenic drive is a landmark, but it sure is the case in Peoria. Grandview Drive is a short and sweet 2.5-mile backroad that was constructed back in 1903. It's so scenic that President Theodore Roosevelt referred to it as the "world's most beautiful drive." Read our previous coverage to learn more about Grandview Drive.
5. The Lincoln Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield
There are several sites pertaining to Abraham Lincoln around the state; after all, this is the Land of Lincoln. The 16th POTUS lived in Illinois as an adult for many years, working several different jobs before becoming a politician and an attorney. He and most of his immediate family are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, their final resting spot marked by a 117-foot obelisk on top of a rather large base. Learn more about The Lincoln Tomb on its official website.
Just a short drive from The Lincoln Tomb is the Old State Capitol State Historic Site. Here you'll find a reconstruction of the building that served as the capitol between 1840 and 1876. It is also where Abraham Lincoln gave his notable "House Divided" speech. Learn more about the Old State Capitol on the webpage.
Built in 1855, the 22-room Italianate Reddick Mansion sits at Ottawa's Washington Square which served as the site for the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. This was the most expensive home built prior to the Civil War and it's worthwhile to take a tour. Read more about the Reddick Mansion in our previous coverage.
So, there you have it – seven iconic landmarks in Illinois. What are your favorite landmarks across the state? Tell us in the comments!
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