In the heart of DeWitt, Illinois, a piece of rural history reveals that the DeWitt sights hardly exude. I remember the first time I arrived here with the old Bloomington-Normal diesel bus – the rat of the wheels was almost a soundtrack for what should happen. The city was named after politician DeWitt Clinton in 1855, and you can feel it immediately when you look at the old brick houses along Main Street; they stand there like merical witnesses of an era where the railway network was still the true life elixir.
De Witt Township, embedded in the same name DeWitt County, is a patchwork of fields, small farms and a few scattered residential blocks that all share the same, slightly sleepy atmosphere. I often feel that the inhabitants here talk more about maize than about the newest from Hollywood – and that's okay because the authentic country life doesn't taste everyone. If you come by car, you will find the way to the U.S. route 24 surprisingly uncomplicated; a short stop at the petrol station is enough to fill the tank and at the same time to talk to the friendly owner who knows more about local history than any guide.
A walk through the small city park lets you forget the time, while the clock ticks loudly and the sun goes under the wide fields. And yes, the DeWitt sights are not just the glittering skyline of a metropolis, but that makes the charm – a bit of rustic pride, a touch of nostalgia and a lot of space to breathe through when you want to escape the hectic everyday life.
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The first place I have to put to each visitor is that Peoria Riverfront Museum. I drove there by car over the I‐74, parking is almost always a Klack, as long as you don't come on Friday night – then the field full of vans becomes a small battlefield. The museum combines art, science and history in a huge glass building on the river, and I must admit that I really understood the hype around the interactive star map only after a few hours. Once I was standing in the middle of the exhibition, while a child according to “Boom!” imitated the sound of a simulated Supernova – I suddenly felt like a small astronaut in a huge but cozy space capsule.
Only a short trip north leads to Luthy Botanical Garden in Peoria. I spent more hours there than I wanted to admit, because I fell in love with the scent of lavender and the sheer size of the rose collection. The entrance is free, parking is a bit tricky on hot summer days, but a small walk through the well-kept paths is worth every effort. Especially impressive is the Japanese garden house, which looks like a Zen master designed it personally for me – no joke, I almost meditated there while a squirrel inspected my sandwich half.
A few miles further, almost like a secret bonus, lies the Peoria Zoo. I was there because I thought a zoo was just for children, but the animal nurses here seem to be a little too much heart blood in their work. The Gorilla range is a highlight, and I wondered why I don't see such majestic creatures more often when I'm just watching cows in the fields around DeWitt. Parking is usually sufficient except for weekends when families with strollers flood the terrain.
If you have enough of modern attractions, it is worth a trip Washington, Illinois. The historic city centre with its old courthouse and the small but fine museum is a real time travel spot. I discovered an old coffee shop where the owners still advertise with a handwritten sign “Best Coffee Since 1885” – that’s more than just a gag, that’s a piece of local identity. Parking is practically right in front of the square, and the whole village looks as if it were a film from the 1930s.
For nature lovers Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area A must. I spent a weekend fishing there, and I had to find that the calm on the river is almost meditative – until a loudly strong hunter came by with his dog and the silence torn. Nevertheless, there are excellent hiking trails, and fishing is almost always successful thanks to the well preserved shore areas. Parking is a simple field path that you can easily drive with a normal car.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Illinois Railway Museum in Union, about 20 miles north. I am a self-proclaimed railway freak, and the museum is a paradise of historic locomotives and wagons. I have been sitting there in an old steam train for hours while a guide told me the history of the railway in Illinois – a bit dry, but the sounds of the steam locomotive have tied me completely. Parking is well signposted at the museum, and the grounds are so large that you can easily walk a few kilometers without running.
A short detour to Rock Island Trail State Park around Lacon offers a completely different experience: an endless, well maintained cycle and hiking trail that leads through fields and small forests. I have packed up my old mountain bike equipment there and I am straightened over 15 kilometres, only to stop at a small picnic area and enjoy the silence. Parking is usually easy on the trailheads except during the hot summer days when campers with their caravans occupy the seats.
Last but not least a little secret tip: Cedar Creek Park in Peoria. I made a picnic with friends there while we enjoyed the view of the lake. The park is not overrun, the water is clear enough to observe the ducks, and the barbecue is almost a ritual here. Parking is right at the entrance, and the whole area feels like a small, hidden retreat that only locals really know.
Whether you are looking for art, nature or history, the surroundings of DeWitt offer a colourful mix that surprises every traveler. From museums to botanical gardens to quiet river banks – there is enough to discover to fill the days and caress the soul. So, the next time you drive over the DeWitt roads, you should not only be limited to the city itself, but the many DeWitt Attractions in the area.
The history of DeWitt begins long before the first highway sign that I have ever seen – it lies in the dust of the prairie, in the crumbling halls of the old court building, which still runs above the marketplace. I have to admit that I do not understand the whole hype about “historical courthouses”, but that DeWitt County Courthouse has something that surprises me every time: the massive dome that breaks the light so in the summer that you almost feel like having a little more time while staring at the next court appointment in the waiting area.
A short walk down the main road leads you to DeWitt County Historical Museum. There hanging old photos of horse cars and a dusty tractor steering wheel make you realize that life here was never really fast. I found a handwritten note there, which says that the museum is occupied only on Saturdays by a few volunteers – so if you plan to visit it, bring some patience, and yes, parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not arrive there on Friday night after the County Fair.
If you have enough of dusty relics, take a look at the DeWitt City Park. This is not some field with a few benches; here there is a small lake, a playground that has more rust than color, and a baseball field that is transformed every year by the local teens into an improvised concert venue. I once made a picnic there, while an older gentleman in the background loudly swarmed over the “good old times” of the 1970s baseball team – a real local charm that both amuses you and irritates you a little.
Another must when you enter the DeWitt Attractions to deepen, this is DeWitt Public Library. Yes, you've read correctly, a library in a city that has barely more than 2,000 inhabitants. But that's just the special thing: the building is a converted classroom from the 1920s, and the shelves are filled with local history books that you wouldn't find anywhere else. I found a book about the first settlers that I read in a café next to the library – the café is called “Miller’s General Store Café” and serves the best coffee I ever drank in a place with less than 50 inhabitants.
For those looking for a bit of nostalgia in the form of metal and wood, the old DeWitt Grain Elevator a real eye-catcher. It stands on the edge of the city, right next to the rails, and although it is no longer active, there are occasional art installations by local students. I once caught a little graffiti artist on how he sprayed a huge, almost poetic “DEWITT” to the side – that was a short but intense moment that captured the mixture of decay and creativity perfectly.
A short detour to DeWitt Water Tower is also worth it. The tower is not only a landmark, but also a popular spot for Instagram photos because it shines in a light green light at night. I met a few friends there who were just about to organize a local music jam session – the result was an oblique mix of country guitars and an old harmonica that somehow reflects the heart of DeWitt.
Lastly, the annual spectacle on the DeWitt County Fairgrounds Don't forget. The Fairground is the epicentre of all crazy activities: from cattle upgrades to a giant wheel, which is more snaring than an old ship. I was there last summer and I found myself in a snake for the “Corn Dog-King” tournament – a competition where you need to eat a Mais-Hot-Dog in less than 30 seconds without choking. Spoiler: I didn't win, but the laugh of the crowd was a real win.
So, next time you ask about Illinois and ask yourself if you should do a detour to DeWitt, remember: there is more to discover than you would suspect at first sight. And if you're wondering why I'm writing so much about a small village here – because I think these inconspicuous places have the best stories to tell when you're ready to listen to a bit.
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