Visit Limestone Kankakee Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the wonderful nature of Limestone, Illinois: The "Garden of the Gods" is a geotopic protected area with rock formations and limestone walls, which are reflected in red shades. Not to be missed: The panoramic points "Grand Canyon of the Midwest" and the "Garden of the Gods Overlook". To stay overnight I climbed the "Cave-in-Rock State Park Campground", where you can also visit the famous "Cave-in-Rock".
For centuries, Limestone has been attracting people looking for Limestone sights, and I must admit that the charm here consists of more dusty field roads than shiny posters. The city was built in the middle of 19. Centuries when brave settlers exploited the rich limestone deposits and founded the small village on the edge of the then still wild Kankakee County. For me, the word “township” always sounds like bureaucracy, but Limestone Township is actually the inconspicuous backbone that holds the agricultural fields together and gives the old rails a bit of nostalgia.
When you arrive by car over the I‐57, you immediately notice that the approach is rather a patience sample – a few kilometers of road, a sign that is barely readable, and then suddenly the wide open field that glitters from silver limestone quarries. I like to take the train to Kankakee and then jump into the local bus because the feeling of sitting in the small bus always reminds me of the good old times when every train was a little adventure.
Once arrived, I notice that people here have a peculiar self-confidence: they like to talk about history while at the same time planning the latest barbecue evening in the backyard. If you really want to experience the Limestone sights, you should not only look at the historical quarries, but also have a conversation with one of the oldest farmers – he tells you why the country tastes better here than any gourmet restaurant you have ever visited. And yes, that's not a joke, that's pure, slightly cynical truth firsthand.
The history of Limestone begins long before the first house I have seen there, and that is exactly what is my heart on this spot – a place that has more layers than a badly-stored Lasagne ball. I remember my first meeting with the United Methodist Churcha brick building that looks like an ambitious craftsman tried to build a castle, but then lost the construction plans. Inside it is surprisingly simple, the benches cling like old friendships, and the organ play sounds as if someone accidentally put the volume on “God’s anger”. When you get there, bring a little patience – the church is small, but the stories that are told here are huge.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Limestone Public Library. I spent more time there than I want to admit, because the small reading room window offers a view of the old grain camp, which rises behind the building like a silent guard. The staff is friendly, but not exaggerated enthusiastic – they give you the book you want, and then let yourself start your own little adventure. Parking is usually a Klack, except on Sundays when the church uses the field for a picnic and suddenly every car acts like a lost sheep.
If you feel that you have enough of dusty shelves, look at this Limestone Grain Elevator on. This massive wooden and steel structure is what you call “the place where fate turns” in films, only without the dramatic orchestra. I stood there once in the late summer when a wind blow swirled the grain like confetti through the air – an image that reminds me that even the most banal structures can have a bit of magic. The ascent to the viewing platform is not just a walk in the park, but the view over the wide fields is a real reward for the effort.
A little further north, almost hidden between a few barns, lies that Limestone Historical Society Museum. I must confess I was skeptical – a museum in a city that has hardly more than one post office? But the collection of old school books, yellowed newspapers and a handmade swing, which once belonged to a local peasant, surprised me completely. The staff, a retired teacher and his wife, tell the stories with a mixture of pride and a touch of “We have already explained this a hundred times, so please don’t ask again. ‘
For those who prefer to be outside, Limestone Community Park the true heartpiece. The playground is a bit like a relic from the 80s – rusty swings, a climbing scaffold that offers more crumbs than climbing, and a baseball field that is tasted by local teams in the summer. I once made a picnic with friends, and while we complained about the weather, an older gentleman came by telling us that he “ caught the ball here as a child before he even knew how to throw.” This is the real flair you get here: a bit of nostalgia, a bit of dust, and a lot of honest conversations.
A short detour to Limestone Cemetery completes the picture. It sounds morbide, but the tombstones tell stories you wouldn't find in any guide. I discovered an old stele covered by moss, which was named “Eleanor M.”, 1887. Next to her, a young man stood who told me that Eleanor was the first teacher in the city and that her tomb is always decorated with fresh wild flowers – a silent sign that there is still someone who believes in the past.
All this together Limestone Attractions to a kaleidoscope of small moments, which you only really appreciate when you are ready to stay a bit and question the obvious. I leave the place every time with the feeling that I left a little more of myself there – and this is perhaps the biggest compliment I can give to this tiny spot in the Middle West.
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