Most People Have No Idea Just How Unique This Village In Illinois Truly Is
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published July 02, 2017
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Unheard of by most, this tiny village on Illinois’ western river coasts is one of the loveliest places to visit. Preserved in its 19th century condition, it was cut off from the rest of the state and is now like a time machine into the past.
If you love vintage villages, keep scrolling for all the details about one you’ll surely want to visit. Check it out:
Situated right on the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois, the village of Elsah is secluded from the rest of the world. It is west of Alton but overlooked due to how difficult it can be to get there.
Hidden by a valley of bluffs and forests, Elsah was once a vibrant riverside town that lost popularity once railways were invented, as none could be built through the rock formations.
Due to being cut off both physically and economically, the town never developed past its 19th-century roots and still maintains the original buildings that accommodated the settlement.
The village's beauty can be attributed to its founder who dictated that anyone who moved there build their residence out of stone, which today adds romantic charm to this riverside wonderland.
Elsah is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains many wonders including several inns and an old-fashioned general store. There are also several museums, a wildlife center, and historic community buildings to tour.
Illinois' best kept secret is a village frozen in time that will show you what life was like over a century ago. Take your time meandering through the bluffs and enjoy the lovely scenery around Elsah.