10 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in Illinois

To many people, the state of Illinois is synonymous with the bustling megacity of Chicago and its towering skyscrapers, highly regarded museums, world-famous sports teams, and urban sprawl. However, there is far more to be seen and experienced in Illinois than just the famed Windy City. "The Prairie State", with the exception of the Chicago metropolitan area, is mostly filled with vast tracts of picturesque farmland punctuated by a network of beautiful and unique small towns, many of which play host to interesting commercial attractions, as well as significant historical, cultural, and natural landmarks. But situated as they are in the shadow of a giant metropolis, these wonderful communities are too often overlooked by tourists! To help remedy this understandable yet unfortunate reality, the following is a list of ten unforgettable small towns in Illinois waiting to be explored.

Galena

Galena leads off this list of ten unforgettable small towns to visit in Illinois for a few very good reasons. The town of 3,308 is often cited as a prime example of vintage Americana. Its downtown is renowned for retaining the folksy charm of yesteryear, including cobblestone streets and many buildings whose red brick edifices have remained untouched since their construction in the 1800s. A 581-acre portion of the town known as the Galena Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

As for things to do, Galena has no shortage. The town features two wineries open to the public for tours and tastings. For those who enjoy a solid eighteen holes, there are ten golf courses within a short distance of Galena. For the more outdoorsy and adventurous types, boating, canoeing, and kayaking trips are available on the Galena River (a tributary of the Mississippi River) during the warmer months, and skiing and snowboarding excursions are available at nearby Chestnut Mountain Resort during the colder months.

Galena also lays claim to a rich past. The town is named after the mineral galena, which is the main ore of lead and an important ore of silver. Plentiful in the region, Native Americans mined Galena for at least a millennium before people of European descent settled in the area. In the early 19th century, the discovery of the extent of these deposits caused one of the first mineral rushes in American history and prompted the founding of the town. By 1828, Galena was the busiest steamboat hub on the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri, and the population of the town was approximately three times what is today.

History enthusiasts and Civil War buffs will also love visiting Galena, as the town contains the preserved homes of no less than eight Union generals, including former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.

Fulton

Named after Robert Fulton the inventor of the steamboat, Fulton (population 3,481) can be found just inside the Illinois border with Iowa on the banks of the Mississippi River. Fulton is well-known for its Dutch heritage, and emblematic of that is its fully operational windmill (named "De Immigrant") that produces flour using the old continental method.

Also worth a look-see in Fulton are the Windmill Cultural Center and the old Sawmill Museum. Then there is the much-vaunted Heritage Canyon, which is a twelve-acre cultural center and nature walk featuring several buildings from the 1800s preserved in their original form. Visitors can take tours of Heritage Canyon, which has the added benefit of doubling as a nature walk through a beautiful wooded area.

Rockton

Nestled in the Rock River Valley in Winnebago County Illinois, Rockton is a charming town with 7,685 permanent residents. Filled with independent shops, art galleries, and antique stores, Rockton is ideal for anyone interested in a quiet weekend getaway. The Macktown Living History Museum (Macktown was the official name of Rockton once upon a time) is one of the true historical gems of Northern Illinois and offers a detailed glimpse into the everyday lives of residents in centuries past. In the outlying vicinity of the Rockton proper lay even more attractions. Of these, the Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve is a definite highlight. Filled with native trees, plants, birds, and land animals, the preserve is perfect for a long hike, a scenic run, or even a stroll. Williams Tree Farm is also worth a visit, especially for those who enjoy the idea of horse-drawn hayrides, homemade fudge, homemade decorative wreaths, or an up-close meeting with a reindeer or a camel.

Mount Carroll

The county seat of Carroll County, Illinois, Mount Carroll is another of the state's anachronistic communities. Sometimes referred to as the "New England of the Midwest", the town of 1,479 souls has somehow managed to defy the encroachment of modernity. With the majority of its central commercial area and a substantial chunk of its residential areas designated as the Mount Carroll Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places, the community looks much as it did 50 years ago--a fact in which the town's residents tend to take great pride. Some of the top attractions in Mount Carroll include taking in a stage show at the Timber Lake Playhouse or spending an evening at the town's legendary haunted mansion, the Raven's Grin Inn.

Woodstock

Although replete with many unique local businesses and sights, the main claim to fame of Woodstock, Illinois is its role as the backdrop for the classic movie Groundhog Day. As anyone who has seen the film can attest, the town gives the impression of a Norman Rockwell painting coming to life. Its central town square and main streets are instantly recognizable to film buffs and casual viewers alike, and wandering through the familiar layout of the downtown, one almost expects to catch a glimpse of Bill Murray dressed in an overcoat and holding a microphone in front of an on-location news crew.

But Woodstock has so much more to offer visitors than a romp down the annals of magic realism rom-com movie history. For example, the town is known as a hub for live music, a reputation bolstered by the annual Woodstock Folk Festival, as well as its Jazz on the Square performance series. There is also the acclaimed Woodstock Opera House, which hosts a diverse program of concerts, theatrical plays, dance recitals, and lectures each year. Another popular destination is the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, which offers guided tours of the famed architect's dwelling and is, in and of itself, a breathtaking masterpiece of building design.

The population of Woodstock is a robust 25,630, making it one of the larger communities on this list, but that fact in no way diminishes its undeniable small-town feel.

Nauvoo

Anyone interested in the religious past of the United States ought to plan a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois. The small town represents a pivotal point in the history of Mormonism, as it was bought outright by the Church of Latter-Day Saints in 1839 to escape persecution in their previous headquarters in Missouri. At that point, the town was officially called Quashquema in honor of a local Native American chief, but after purchasing the town, the incoming Mormons decided to rename it Nauvoo. However, conflict soon arose between members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and non-LDS inhabitants of the town, and so the Mormon residence in Nauvoo was short-lived, lasting only about four years before they set out for what would prove to be their ultimate home in the Salt Lake Valley.

In 1849, another religious group had settled in Nauvoo. The Icarans, a sect of utopians dedicated to the teachings of French philosopher Étienne Cabet, attempted to set up a socialist commune in the small town. The effort ultimately fell flat, and most Icarans had left the town for greener pastures by 1856.

These days, Nauvoo (population 950) is recognized for its architectural beauty, much of which revolves around its rich religious history. The Nauvoo Temple is of particular interest to many tourists, as are the former residences of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Outside of sites of religious significance, some interesting attractions in Nauvoo include the Press House Winery, Weld House Museum, Rheinberger House Museum, and Nauvoo State Park.

Lebanon

With 5,523 people living within its boundaries, the town of Lebanon dwells in St. Clair County, which is firmly inside the section of downstate Illinois known as Little Egypt due to its geographic similarities to the Nile River Basin. Something of a bedroom community, in recent decades Lebanon has evolved into a role as a suburb to nearby St, Louis, Missouri, even though the town was originally founded in 1814 as a distinct and separate community.

Among the many diversions in Lebanon are Emerald Mound, which is a site containing the ancient ruins of a once-thriving Native American village and its spiritual center. Then there is Mermaid House, a former hotel-turned-historical site where Charles Dickens once stayed and later immortalized in his famous travelogue American Notes. Lebanon is also home to McKendree University, a Methodist-affiliated institution of higher learning. Established in 1828, McKendree is the oldest college in Illinois.

Arcola

The small town of Arcola (population 2,927) is located in Douglas County, smack dab in the middle of the eastern section of Illinois. The town largely owes its existence to the Illinois Central Railroad, whose officials surveyed, platted, and founded the town in 1855 as a convenient way station between the northern and southern portions of one of its main lines.

Arcola has a great many activities to keep visitors busy. The Aikman Wildlife Adventure is a family-friendly safari experience featuring more than 70 different species of animals and an on-site museum of prehistoric life. The relatively recently constructed Hippie Memorial is a unique structure designed to pay homage to the hippie counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s and features an extensive collection of themed artwork. The Green Mill Village Theater and Arcola Carnegie Public Library are both points of great interest, as well.

But Arcola is known best as the birthplace of Raggedy-Ann and Andy, the adorable dolls and beloved storybook characters. As a tribute to these characters and their creator, Johnny Gruelle, Arcola houses the Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum. Filled floor to ceiling with memorabilia, the museum's stated mission is to "promote the inspiration, values, and spirit of imagination that has made (Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy) an American institution for so many years."

Princeton

The county seat of Bureau County, Illinois, Princeton is a preferred destination both for out-of-state tourists and day-trippers from Chicago, which is just a two-hour drive away. Princeton is chock full of historical landmarks, foremost of which in popularity are the town's two covered bridges, the Red Covered Bridge and the Captain Swift Bridge, both allowing passage over Big Bureau Creek. Other noteworthy attractions in Princeton include the scenic Hornbaker Gardens, the Bureau County Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and the Princeton Farmer's Market, which sells the most delicious agricultural products the region has to offer every Saturday throughout spring, summer, and autumn months.

The town, whose present-day population sits at 7,832, is also well-known for the part it played in American history. During the time of slavery in the United States, Princeton was a dependable stop on the Underground Railroad. The estate of Owen Lovejoy, a prominent abolitionist congressman in the 1850s, served as a safe house for escaped slaves. Today, it is a museum dedicated to chronicling the realities of that era, as well as a certified National Historic Landmark.

Alto Pass

With only 342 permanent residents, Alto Pass, Illinois is the smallest community featured in this list, but it punches far above its weight in terms of hospitality and natural beauty. For those who enjoy communing with nature, Cliff View Park, Shawnee National Forest, and Trail of Tears State Forest are tremendous options within easy driving distance of the village.

But the true specialty of Alto Pass is its gourmet dining and agri-tourism businesses. Alto Vineyards is the oldest and most awarded winery in Southern Illinois, perfect for wine tastings and fine dining. Another staple of the village, Von Jakob Winery & Brewery is much more than its name would suggest, as it also hosts a very well-reviewed bed and breakfast, as well as a regionally acclaimed restaurant. Finally, the Peachbarn Winery & Cafe offers a more casual and rustic experience, featuring homemade food, lodgings, and live music, all within the confines of a renovated and repurposed barn initially built in 1946.

Illinois has a lot to offer visitors outside of its big cities. From the burgeoning music scene of Woodstock to the religious sites of Nauvoo to the quaint covered bridges of Alto Pass, the tiny-to-mid-sized communities listed above offer a welcome respite from the stresses of modern urban existence. The small towns of the "Prairie State" capture the charm and calm pace of life of a bygone era, all the while containing diverse sources of entertainment, historicity, and cultural merit. Put another way, there are a lot of interesting things to see and do in small-town Illinois, and anyone who explores the state's less-populated and less-publicized communities is in for a fantastic treat.