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Albany Mounds State Historic SiteAlbany Indian Mounds State Historic Site in Albany, Illinois consists of 205 acres of tree covered hills, valleys and surrounding prairie which is ideal for a walk, bike ride or just sitting and observing the wildlife from deer to eagles that call the park home. The Indian Mounds is now an Illinois State Historic Site. Laying neglected for hundreds of years it is now a natural park open for the public. The Albany Indian Mounds Foundation sees the site as an interpretive center for the history of the Hopewellian culture of more than 2000 years ago. Located at the south end of the village, there is a parking lot at the entrance, at the southwest end of Cherry Street. Nearby is a covered picnic shelter with tables and electricity outlets, water fountain, rest rooms and interpretive signs. The parking lot is also the north entrance of the asphalt-covered Great River Recreation Trail. Here the trail runs for nearly a mile to the south to Bunker Hill and Meredosia roads. Across Meredosia Road to the south is another 15 acres that once was a village site owned by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The Natives who lived here as early as 500 BC were part of the Hopewell culture, so named because their existence was first learned of on the Hopewell farm in Ohio, where similar mounds had been built. It is not known what the people called themselves or what language they spoke. It is believed that their culture declined sometime around 350 A.D. The site was well-suited to the Hopewell culture, which was not an Indian tribe but rather a term referring to the period in American Indian prehistory marked by trade, communication, and the sharing of ideas throughout a huge area of the continent. They preferred to build their villages at the base of bluffs along the floodplains of major rivers, such as the Mississippi, that offered transportation. At Albany, with the adjacent Meredosia Slough, which served as flood drainage for the Mississippi and Rock rivers, there was an abundant source of food and water. The waters, forests, and prairie provided food and fuel for the Hopewell. Open dawn until dusk. The site also includes a parking lot, picnic shelter, walking trails, and interpretive signs along a bike trail. The Friends of the Albany Indian Mounds Foundation is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the site. Accessibility Information The following are available for the visitor to the site: The parking lot is blacktop. There are no spaces marked accessible. There are no sidewalks or ramps. There are no buildings or an office at this site. There are no water fountains at this site, but there is a pit toilet, which isn't marked accessible. The site has a one-mile blacktop bike trail.
Asa Crook HomeHistoric home built in 1839 by Prophetstown’s first settler, Asa Crook Sr. Served as inn, church, school, and post office. Restored and preserved by the Prophetstown Area Historical Society. Near the Rock River on Asa Crook’s original land.
Eclipse Square Memorial ParkEclipse Square Veterans Memorial Park honors veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs in downtown Prophetstown. Named for the Eclipse lawnmower once manufactured in the community, the park includes commemorative monuments, green space and a picnic pavilion.
Fulton Windmill Cultural CenterThe collection was designed by Henk and June Hielema of DeMotte, Indiana. The Hielema’s traveled extensively, photographed mills, and returned home to build models of them. The mills are from ten European countries: Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Informative interpretive materials complement the windmill collection, providing unique information on windmill products, countries of origin, windmill specifications, and the cultural impact of windmills. The Windmill Cultural Center contains a charming gift shop where visitors can purchase fresh stone-ground flour, Delft pottery, and souvenirs of Fulton, the Windmill Cultural Center, and the de Immigrant windmill. The Education Area is located at the east end of the Windmill Cultural Center. This room helps visitors learn more about mills. Groups will be able to enjoy video presentations of the windmill countries and read books about mills. The Education Area also features children's activities, including coloring, puzzles, and toys that promote scientific concepts. Entrance to the Windmill Cultural Center is free, but donations are appreciated. OPERATIONAL HOURS May–October: May: Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, Sunday 1 PM–5 PM. June – August: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, Sunday 1 PM–5 PM. September: Monday–Friday 10 AM–3 PM, Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, Sunday 1 PM–5 PM. October: Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, Sunday 1 PM–5 PM. Closed: November through April.
Historic Lyndon BridgeCompleted in 1894, the Historic Lyndon Bridge is a pedestrian-only Parker Pratt through-truss bridge listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk across for quiet Rock River views and photo opportunities, then pause at the nearby park’s shelter, swing, bench, and grill.
Martin House MuseumThe Martin House Museum is Fulton’s local-history museum and the headquarters of the Fulton Historical Society. The 1855 brick Italianate home, later expanded with Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts details, preserves Fulton memorabilia, genealogy resources, plat books, historic newspapers, and community stories. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the accessible museum is open Sunday afternoons or by appointment, and offers a guide to Fulton’s historic district.
Morrison Lincoln Highway MuralThe Morrison Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural at 208 E. Main Street depicts visitors arriving at the 1921 Whiteside County Fair after the newly paved Lincoln Highway made regional travel easier. Installed as part of the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition’s interpretive mural series, the hand-painted work connects Morrison’s fair heritage with the nation’s first transcontinental highway and forms part of the scenic byway’s public-art trail across Illinois.
Morrison Veteran’s Park & MemorialMorrison Veteran’s Park & Memorial on East High Street offers a quiet place to honor area veterans. The memorial includes a Howitzer field-artillery piece, tablets naming deceased Morrison-area veterans with service and burial information, personalized brick pavers, and granite benches for reflection. The American, POW/MIA, and Illinois flags fly above the site. Contact the City of Morrison for information about purchasing a memorial brick.
Propheter ParkOutdoor basketball courts, playground, open play areas, and a Lincoln statue.
Prophetstown Civil War MonumentLocated on the east bank of the Rock River at Riverside Cemetery. Commemorates four battles: Shiloh, Gettysburg, Kennesaw, and Resaca. Features a lone Civil War soldier.
Prophetstown MuralsExplore downtown public murals depicting Prophetstown history and celebrating the community’s Illinois Arts Friendly recognition.
Robert A. Millikan ParkPark named for Nobel laureate Robert A. Millikan. Downtown Morrison. Features icons of Morrison’s past: hitching post, railroad crossing, horse trough, historic brick paths. Developed with help from the Historic Preservation Commission.
Rock Falls Veterans Memorial ParkThe first City Park in Rock Falls, Veterans Memorial Park was established to memorialize, commemorate and properly recognize our veterans – past, present and future – for their contributions to the protection of our nation and its citizens, as well as the preservation of freedom throughout the world. Contains dedicated monuments to all Rock Falls Veterans. Has a fully lit band shell and covers approx. 1 acre.
Ronald Reagan ParkVillage park with a playground, picnic space, presidential-history marker, gazebo, and a bronze statue of a young Ronald Reagan.
Sinnissippi Park & Sinnissippi MoundsLarge riverside park with hiking, fishing, disc golf, playgrounds, picnic shelters, recreational space, and the nationally recognized Hopewellian Sinnissippi Mounds.
Sterling Lincoln Highway Interpretive MuralLincoln Highway mural at 424 Locust Street composed as five vintage radio-program advertisements; part of Sterling's downtown mural collection and its self-guided public-art tour.
Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society Carriage House MuseumLocal-history museum tracing Sterling and Rock Falls from prehistoric times through the modern industrial era with permanent and rotating exhibits; summer public hours and separate appointment access are posted by the Historical Society.
Tampico Area Historical Society MuseumLocal-history museum and research center with Tampico-area family-history resources, photographs, railroad artifacts, community collections, and Ronald Reagan memorabilia. Check the Society for current public hours or research appointments.
The TailorThe Tailor is a beautifully restored 1892 loft in downtown Morrison's national historic district. The 800-square-foot studio sleeps up to four guests and blends Victorian character—original Douglas fir floors, 10-foot ceilings, pocket doors, and a clawfoot tub—with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, queen bed, sofa bed, dedicated workspace, Roku TV, Wi-Fi, self check-in, and one parking space. The second-floor loft is above an art gallery and requires climbing 21 stairs.
- Tri-Township Heritage MuseumAlbany museum preserving photographs, documents, books, artifacts, and memorabilia from Albany, Garden Plain, and Newton townships, with special exhibits and a Memorial Day open house. Seasonal hours are Friday through Sunday, 1–4 p.m., from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Wierenga’s Heritage CanyonTucked into a wooded hillside near the Mississippi River, Wierenga’s Heritage Canyon offers a one-of-a-kind blend of nature, history, and quiet exploration. This 12-acre site began as a limestone quarry before being thoughtfully transformed into a recreated 1800s village—where winding trails lead visitors from one historic structure to the next. Founded in 1967 by Harold and Thelma Wierenga, the canyon was built with a mission to preserve Midwestern heritage while respecting the natural landscape. Today, guests can stroll along self-guided paths that connect a collection of authentically styled buildings, including a one-room schoolhouse, church, blacksmith shop, doctor’s office, log cabins, and more—each offering a glimpse into daily life from another era. The experience is part outdoor adventure, part living history. Rustic bridges, shaded trails, and interpretive stops create a relaxed pace, making it easy to explore at your own speed. During select events throughout the year, the site comes to life even more with demonstrations, costumed interpreters, and seasonal festivals that highlight traditional crafts and pioneer skills. Open seasonally from spring through fall, Heritage Canyon welcomes visitors for free (donations appreciated) and offers a peaceful, educational outing for all ages. Whether you’re wandering through the trees, stepping inside historic buildings, or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of the canyon, it’s a place where the past feels surprisingly close—and easy to connect with.
