Visit Fairbury Livingston Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the old railway town of Fairbury in Illinois! Experience the historic railway station and the Museum of Railway History. Enjoy local specialities at the "Corn & Soy" restaurant. An unforgotten experience is the ballooning sunlight with the Fairbury Balloon Ride!
In the heart of Fairbury, a piece of forgotten history is revealed, which subtlely characterises Fairbury's sights: in 1857, when the railway slit the prairie, the town grew from a simple warehouse to a proud center of agricultural trade. I have the feeling that the old brick buildings are telling more about ambition than any brochure, and this is not just about the tooth of time, but about the people who still chat here with an eye-catcher about the “good old time”. Indian Grove Township, which surrounds the city area, looks like a silent witness – wide fields, isolated corn stores and a sky that rarely passes by its blue splendour.
When you arrive by car, simply follow the US‐24, which runs like a red thread through the county and let yourself be guided by the few but well-preserved road signs – no GPS sense is necessary. A short detour to Pontiac, the next larger place, is worthwhile if you want to feel the contrast between the small town idyll and the urban hustle. I have to admit that I don’t understand the hype about the “art in the cornfield” installations, but the honest hospitality of the locals who already give you a smile at the first coffee is really great. And yes, the Fairbury sights are not only museums and monuments, but the whole feeling of life that pulsates between the old barns and the modern tractors.
The story of Fairbury begins long before the first rail rail rails, which I still have in mind today when I entered the old depot and almost heard the echo of the steam locomotives. The Fairbury Historical Museum – a re-functioning railway station from the 1870s – is my personal favorite place because it presents the city history in dusty boxes and yellowed newspaper sheets without smelling too much after dusty school hour. I don’t understand the hype about “historical railway museums”, but here there is an original signal horn that becomes a small, involuntary concert every time you visit. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the annual “Railroad Days” festival blocks the street.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Fairbury Public Library, a charming brick building from the early 20th. Century that houses more books than the city has inhabitants – and this is no joke. I once borrowed a book about local botany there, only to establish that the librarians know more about the history of the city than any history teacher within a radius of 50 miles. If you're looking for a quiet place to read a little or just admire the creeping parquet, this is the perfect hiding place. Parking behind the building is almost always free as long as you don't plan a picnic with the locals at noon.
Further north, hardly overlooking, the Water Tower like a rusty guard over the fields. I have always called it the “big metal eye” because it dominates the cityscape and at the same time acts a bit like a relic from another era. The tower is not accessible to visitors, but a short trip to the nearby parking area allows you a good photo motif – especially at sunset when the light dips the metal into a warm orange. I once made a selfie there that my friends still prove that I was “real” in Fairbury.
If you're looking for something green that doesn't just consist of corn fields, then the Fairbury City Park That's right. The small lake in the center is not deep enough to swim, but it reflects the surrounding trees so clearly that you almost feel like entering a painting. I bought an ice cream from a mobile stand there on a hot summer day and then put me on one of the benches to watch the ducks who were brave enough to steal my bread. Parking is a children's game as long as you don't come to the family picnic on Sunday morning – then you have to turn around with a few other cars.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Fairbury Community Center, located in a former school building. The old gym was transformed into a venue for local bands, art exhibitions and occasional yoga classes. I was there at a small jazz evening where the musicians had more talent than the entire city budget, and the audience – a mixture of teenagers and retired farmers – was thrilled. The entrance is well signposted, and parking is right in front of the building where you usually find a free place if you don't come to the main event of the month.
Of course you must not Main street of Fairbury forgetting that with its historic brick buildings and small shops a real time travel feeling. I have discovered the only café in the city that serves “Midwest Mocha” – a drink that contains more sugar than I want to admit, but that makes a smile on every face. The shops usually open early, and the parking along the road is almost always easy thanks to the wide sidewalks, as long as you don’t look past the Friday night after work when the city suddenly becomes the hotspot for “After-Work-Drinks”.
If you think about what Fairbury Attractions you need to see, then just take the time to stroll from one place to the next, and let yourself be driven by the mix of rustic charm and surprising liveliness. I feel that every corner has a story here – some louder, some quieter – and that makes the visit a little adventure you don't forget so quickly.
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