Visit Cullom Livingston Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the most charming small town in America: Cullom in Illinois! Experience the traditional 4th July-Feiertag and enjoy the typical dishes of the Midwesten in the "Cullom Days" event. Feel the kindness of the inhabitants and explore the local history at the Cullom Museum.
What makes Cullom sights so special is the quiet determination of a small town, which has barely freed itself from its original road charm since the 1870s. Founded as the railway slit the prairie and named after the then Governor John Cullom, the town is in the heart of Sullivan Township, Livingston County, and still carries the traces of its agrarian-like history. I remember how I first arrived by train from Chicago – the rat of the car was the only sound that broke through the wide golden grain landscape, and I thought: “Here there are more cow bells than cafes. ‘
A short trip by car over Interstate 55 takes you directly to the main road, where the old town hall is still the official "welcome" from 19. century. People here, mostly descendants of the first settlers, have a dry humor that is almost as dry as the summer weather. If you are looking for a place where you can sniff the real “Midwest-Feeling”, then a walk along the old grain store is just the right thing – no joke, the sticking of the wooden beams tells more stories than any museum. And yes, the “Cullom Sights” include not only buildings, but also the way the locals discuss politics at Sunday’s roast while secretly pursuing the latest Netflix drama on the old TV.
This guide invites you to stroll with me through the sleepy heart of Cullom, where the word “tourism” is rather a joke that the locals carry with an eye-catcher.
I start with the Cullom Public Library, a tiny Carnegie building that has more dust than visitors – but that's what makes its charm. I once found a book about the history of the railway, which was apparently no longer borrowed since the 1920s. Parking is virtually always free, except on Sundays, when the senior round stops the weekly bingo there and suddenly every parking lot becomes a coveted estate.
A short walk down the main road leads you to old grain silo at the end of Main Street. The massive wooden stand is a relic from the 1900s, which today serves more as a photo motif, because the actual grain has long been taken over by a modern silo operation in the neighborhood. I once made a selfie there while a tractor with squeaking tires passed – a real midwest drama.
If you are looking for a place where the municipality actually meets, then that is Cullom Community Center Your contact point. Here you will find the weekly yoga classes (which sound more like stretching exercises for pensioners) and the annual summer festival, where the local bakery sells their famous cinnamon snails – no joke, they are actually better than what is found in most cities. The center has a small parking lot behind the building; on Fridays, however, it is full because the high school team holds their training there.
Another must is the St. Mary's Catholic Church, whose neo-gothic windows immerse the light in an almost sacral pink in the summer. I have seen a concert from the local youth band there – a surprisingly loud appearance in a church that is otherwise used only for baptisms and funerals. The entrance area has a sign that the visitor friendly indicates that the belling of the door bell is only allowed for special occasions.
For those who prefer outdoors, there is Cullom Park, a small green piece with a baseball field, a playground and a bench overlooking the field path. Here the children meet after school for wild fishing games while the adults sit on the bench and discuss the weather – a perfect place to feel the true pace of land life. The car park is a simple shed, but it is completely enough as long as you do not want to park there on the day of the annual barbecue competition.
A little off but definitely a highlight for history lovers, this is Cullom Historical Museum. It is located in the former town hall and houses a skurrile collection of old land machines, photos of founding families and even an original wooden chair, on which the first mayor of the place should have sat. I found an old newspaper there, which reported about an alleged “UFO sight” in 1953 – a real gag that the locals resurrect at the summer festival every year.
Last but not least, Cullom Attractions not only as points on a map, but as a network of small stories that keep the village together. So, next time you drive over the road and see the sign “Welcome to Cullom”, remember: here there is more to discover than you would suspect at first glance – and all with a portion of dry humor that makes even the dustiest road tolerable.
The first stop I couldn't miss was that Livingston County Historical Museum in Pontiac – a place where the history of more than 150 years of farm and railway life is presented in dusty boxes and crumbling wooden benches. I learned more about the old barn of my great-grandparents when I ever got to read in a modern café, and that's not a joke. The museum is located in the former courthouse, a bit like an old court building that suddenly decided to collect art. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, as it becomes a real problem because the annual “Livingston County Heritage Festival” blocks the entrance.
A few miles further, almost a short trip, this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union – the largest railway museum in the USA I have ever entered. I have to admit, I don't understand the hype about old steam locomotives, but the huge free warehouse with over 400 vehicles is just fantastic. I tried a 1920s railway line there, which is still functional, and the squeaking of the wheels almost made me plan my own train ride – of course only in my head. The museum is well signposted, and parking is a children's play as long as you don't try to arrange a picnic next to the locomotives on Sunday morning, because then the volunteers occupy the places with their barbecues.
Back in Pontiac, the heart of the region, there is the Pontiac Train Depot, a small but charming relic from the era, when trains still formed the backbone of American traffic. I found an old photo album there that showed my great aunt from the 1940s, as it stood with a suitcase full of homemade jam on the platform – a picture that will make me sneak every time I think of today’s “rail to door” logistics. The train station is not only a photo motif, but also a practical place to grab a short coffee, because the small café next door serves the best “Midwest-Muffin” in the area, and that is honestly better than any 5 star rating.
A bit further east, almost on the edge of the famous Kankakee River, lies the Kankakee River State Park. Here you can find a piece of untouched nature that is not disturbed by wind turbines or windmills. I rented a kayak there, and I paddled down the river, while I thought why I shouldn't just build a house on the water until I realized that the insects here lead a life of their own, which even brings the hardest campers to sweat. The park offers hiking trails that range from light to demanding, and parking is usually a Klack, as long as you don’t arrive on the first Saturday in July when the annual “River Fest” clogs the accesses.
Only a stone's throw away from Pontiac, but still an independent jewel, is the Lake of the Woods State Park. The lake is not huge, but it has the certain something: clear water that looks like a mirror in summer, and a small beach bath that is perfect for a spontaneous bath if you need a bit of cooling after a long day in the museum or at the train station. I met some anglers there who told me that the biggest pike they've ever caught was almost as big as their boat – a bit of exaggeration, but that makes the charm. The garage is small, but usually there are a few free places if you don't come to the high season.
If you have a little more time left, you'll find a trip to Livingston County Courthouse, which today serves as a venue for local art exhibitions. I have an exhibition on the “Bauernkultur in the 20th century” Century” that reminded me of why I came here – to hear the stories that are in the fields and barns of this area. The building itself is a beautiful example of classic American architecture, and parking right in front of the main entrance is almost always free, unless there is a court ruling that celebrates the city.
Whether you are a railway freak, a nature lover or just someone looking for a good coffee – the surroundings of Cullom have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. These Cullom Attractions show that the heart of Illinois consists not only of corn fields, but of lively history, quirky museum noise and quiet lakes that invite you to stay.
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