Visit Sainte Marie Jasper Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the most charming town in the Middle West: Sainte Marie in Illinois! Experience the historic centre with old wooden and stone houses, enjoy regional specialities at the local restaurant or take a boat tour through the nearby Missouri River. An unforgettable travel experience guarantee!
For centuries, Sainte Marie has been attracting places of interest to people who celebrate the inconspicuous with an eye-catcher, and I must confess that I do not fully understand the whole “Rustikalkult” hype – until I was here. The city was founded in 1855, a piece of railway baggage from the era, which today is reflected in narrow streets and barns. Who comes here immediately realizes that the story does not live in dusty posters, but in the faces of the old farmers and the faded signs on the main road.
A short trip with the car over the old Route 33 (I always take Highway 130 because it attracts less tourists) leads you directly to the center where the old post office still looks a little like a relic from another time – a perfect spot for a selfie that can later be provided with an ironic comment. The people here are friendly but not exaggerated sincere; they will be happy to give you a tip where you will get the best corn bread while sharing the latest rumors about the upcoming County Festival.
If you're looking for a place that isn't overrun by Instagram influencers, but still has a little charm, then Sainte Marie is just the right thing. And yes, the “Sainte Marie Sights” are less museums, more small moments you can enjoy with an eye-catcher.
The history of Sainte Marie begins long before the first highway sign I have ever overlooked, and I swear that the city does not draw its charm from an Instagram filter, but rather from a decent portion of local peculiarity.
If you have any reason to land here, then it is St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The brick building from 1889 looks as if an ambitious carpenter had tried to build a gothic castle, but then the construction plans lost during the lunch break. I tried the organ there once on a Sunday morning – no joke, the sounds were so loud that the neighbors came out of the room and asked if I had a rock concert. Parking is usually easy, except when the municipality celebrates a festival, the small car park will be full faster than the glass of beer at the summer open air.
A short walk leads you to Sainte Marie Cemeterya place where silence is almost tangible. The tombstones tell stories you wouldn't find in any guide – from veterans who fought in the First World War to an old woman who allegedly guarded the recipe for the best apple cake filling in the region. I once met an old veteran who told me that he does not understand the “hypoy” about modern military parades, but the annual Pentecost bell here in the cemetery still sounds better than any city church.
Only a few destinations surprise their visitors with a reworked grain silo, and that's exactly what this is. Old Grain Elevator Museum. The massive wooden skeleton, which used to send maize and soy away, now houses exhibitions about the agricultural history of the area. I found an old tractor steering wheel there, which I took home as a souvenir in a short time – no joke that was part of a local “retro” ride and now stands in my living room.
If you prefer to move, look at the Riverfront Trail that runs along the Mississippi. The path is not exactly a high-end jogging track, but the view of the river, especially at sunset, is a real eye-catcher. I met an older gentleman there who told me that he jogs here every morning because he believes that the water cleanses the city of “too much noise”. Practical note: There are a few free bike stands at the beginning of the trail, but if you have an e-bike, be warned – the slopes can make you sweat faster than a summer in Chicago.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Sainte Marie Community Hall. Here are the weekly bingo evenings, which have more drama than any reality show. Last week, I watched a 78-year-old gentleman almost freaked out because the "B‐Kugel" was taken away from him – a real proof that the feeling of community still lives here. The hall is easy to find because it is the only building with a neon blue “Open-Door” font above the entrance.
And yes, if you're looking for a place to collect your "Sainte Marie Sights", you'll be entitled to the annual Sainte Marie Summer Festival do not miss. There are local bands, a stand with handmade candles and, to my great surprise, a food truck that serves the best Fried Chicken wraps I have ever eaten. I met an old friend who now works as a bartender and told me he doesn't understand the “hypoy” around craft beers, but the homemade lemonade here is really great.
Finally a little tip: if you are looking for a place to strengthen you for all sightseeing, go to Molly’s Kitchen. The diner is a relic from the 50s, complete with red vinyl chairs and a jukebox that still plays “Rock Around the Clock”. I got the best milkshake in the region there – no joke, he was so creamy that I almost sent back the glass because I thought it was an artwork.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was the imposing Jasper County Courthouse in Newton – a building that looks like a Victorian architect had a bad day and decided to exaggerate everything a little. The red bricks and the massive columns give you the feeling of landing right in a Western movie, only that the judges, instead of revolvers, make sharp judgments. Parking is almost always a Klack, unless you arrive on Friday night after the weekly “County Meeting”, then the car park becomes a battlefield.
A short walk (approximately five minutes walk, if you're not on your way with a donkey) leads to the Newton Opera House. This jewel from the year 1900 has survived more renovations than I have relationships, and you can immediately notice the shiny wooden seats and the artistically carved ceiling. I accidentally caught an amateur jazz concert there – no joke, the audience was half-sleeping, half-hearted, and the acoustics was so good that I almost forgot that the building was actually built for operas.
If you have enough of culture, a trip to the Jasper County Historical Museum is recommended. The museum is not just an architectural miracle, but the collection of old agricultural machinery, photos from the 1920s and an original tractor that still runs “is a real eye-catcher. I found an old map that shows that the area used to range from corn fields to the horizon – today this is more of a patch of fields and small housing estates. Practical: The museum is located directly on the main road, so parking is almost guaranteed at the edge of the road.
A bit further south, about 30 miles from Sainte Marie, lies the Kankakee River State Park. Here you can find a piece of nature that is not overwhelmed by corn fields. The river is wide enough for canoeing, and the hiking trails are so well maintained that you almost feel they would be cared for by a fitness influencer. I made a picnic there while a family father tried to separate his children from the “most wildest” duck – a spectacle that made me laugh more than any comedy show.
Just a few miles further north lies the Lincoln Trail State Park, named after the famous president who once stumbled through the Dickicht – at least according to the signs. The park is a paradise for anglers and hikers alike. The trails swell through dense forests, and the fishing sites at the lake are so popular that you sometimes feel like visiting a small fish concert. Practical note: The parking lot is large, but on hot summer days it fills up faster than an ice cream café on the weekend.
For those who prefer to stay on rails, the Illinois Railway Museum in Union is a must. It is the largest railway museum in the USA and houses more than 400 locomotives and wagons. I saw an old diesel engine there, which still gives the sound of “Rrrrrr” when you start it – a sound that immediately reminds me of my childhood when I played the tracks with my father. The museum is about 35 miles from Sainte Marie, and parking is not a problem thanks to the generous outer surface, as long as you do not come to the main exhibition “Steam‐Saturday”, the field will quickly become a parking moshpit.
One last secret tip I almost forgot is the Cedar Creek Trail, a 12-mile run that runs through gentle hills and old bridges. The trail is equally popular with cyclists and joggers, and the best is that it is barely overflowing – a rare luxury in this area. I met an old farmer who told me that he's been using the trail for over 20 years to turn his daily rounds, and that every time he discovers a new piece of nature he has overlooked.
Whether you are looking for historical architecture, a good jazz evening, natural hiking trails or a journey to the world of railways – the surroundings of Sainte Marie offer more than enough material for a varied trip. And if you count all this together, you get a pretty good picture of what Sainte Marie Attractions really.
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