What makes Windsor sights so special is the unique mix of historical silence and the quiet noise of everyday life, which surprises me every time I slip along the old main road. Since the 1850s, when the railroad brought the small village to the edge of the then wild Illinois, a strange charm has developed here – a bit like a well-aged cheese: not everyone's thing, but for me a feast for the senses. I remember how I arrived from Chicago by train, the rats of the rails almost as a warning for the leisurely pace that prevails here. Windsor Township, embedded in the vast Shelby County, at first glance looks like a forgotten chapter of history, but people here tell stories that are louder than any tourist brochure. When I get into Shelbyville's bus, I'll grab a piece of cake from the bakery on the corner – no joke, that's better than any “Must Lake” list. And yes, I don't understand the hype about the big metropolises, but here, between the old barns and the silent fields, I find a rest you don't find in any guide. Who explores Windsor quickly discovers that the true Windsor sights are not on tables, but are in conversations with the locals and the scent of freshly mowed hay.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Windsor, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop I put to every visitor is that Lake Shelbyville State Park. The lake is just a half hour drive from Windsor and is a true paradise for water rats – whether you are an enthusiastic angler, a kayak driver who loves the quiet hours of the morning, or just someone who wants to recharge a little sun. I spent a whole weekend there, and the only problem was that parking on the main beach was almost impossible on Saturday afternoon, because suddenly everyone from the state appeared there. Otherwise, the docking of the boat is a children's game, and the well-marked hiking trails around the lake offer enough variety to represent the legs if you have enough of paddling.
A short trip to Shelbyville leads you to Shelby County Historical Museum. The building itself is a rebuilt old bank building from the 1920s, which sprays more charm than one would expect from a small museum. I have to admit, I was skeptical if there was really something interesting to see here, but the exhibition about the pioneering period and the local railway history has completely surprised me. Especially the old photographs that show the city in a change have brought me to think about how quickly land life changes – and that without any entry fee, that is always a plus.
Just a few blocks on, this is impressive Shelby County Courthouse. The building is a real pride of the municipality, with an imposing dome that you can see from far away. I once observed a trial there – not exactly what you find in a guide, but the atmosphere was fascinating. The courtyard is freely accessible, and parking is usually easy as long as you do not arrive at lunchtime when the lawyers leave their cars there.
If you're in the area in the summer, you'll have to Shelby County Fairgrounds do not miss. The annual County Fair is a colorful mess of rides, local food stands and a lot of people complaining about the weather because it is either too hot or too rainy. I tried a piece of homemade apple cake there, which was better than anything I've ever eaten in the big cities. The terrain is well signposted, and parking is almost always sufficient – only on the first day of the opening there is a small crowd.
A little away from the main roads Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area. Here you can not only fish, but also observe birds that are otherwise only known from natural documentation. I spent a morning sitting on the riverside and enjoying the silence while some hunters in the distance checked their rifles. Entering the area is free, and parking is easy on the designated areas as long as you do not try to park in the middle of the forest.
Another highlight for railway fans is the Shelbyville Depot, a lovingly restored railway station, which today serves as a small museum. The old locomotives and the original signalling system have put me back into time when trains formed the backbone of rural Illinois. I spent a few hours there because I simply couldn't get enough of the old switches and the handwritten schedules. Parking is right in front of the building, and there is always enough space even when a train arrives.
Finally, a short note on the Downtown Shelbyville Historic District. The street is lined with restored façades from the 19th century Century, small cafes and antique shops that have more character than some big city quarters. I drank a cappuccino there that was so good that I almost forgot that I was just on my way. Parking is possible in the surrounding garages, and most places are free as long as you don't get late in the evening.
If you ask yourself what to discover in the vicinity of Windsor, Windsor Township, Shelby, Illinois, then these are Windsor Attractions a good starting point – from water and nature to history to local lifestyle, all with a shot of irony and a pinch of real enthusiasm.
This guide invites you to discover the hidden corners of Windsor, and I start with my favorite place: the old school house, which is now a mini museum. I almost found my childhood there – only without the annoying homework. The building is located directly on Main Street, and parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then fight for a place between the garbage cans and the delivery car of the local baker.
The Windsor Schoolhouse Museum is not exactly a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the cracking wooden benches and the original school boards give you the feeling that you are in a time machine that only travels back until 1952. I don't understand the hype about old school classes, but the exhibition about local agriculture – including a tiny but working mill – is really great. If you're lucky, you're just getting the voluntary guidance of Mrs. Henderson, who explains every time with an eye-catcher why the cow has never been milked in history.
A short walk leads you to Windsor Community Park. There is a playground, a few baseball fields and a barbecue area that mutates from the locals to an improvised BBQ market in the summer. I once made a spontaneous picnic with a few teenagers from high school; the food was average, but the conversations about the upcoming football game were unpaid. The park is freely accessible, and parking is usually an open field behind the entrance – so simply push it in.
If you are looking for a little more “spiritual” atmosphere, watch St. Mary’s Catholic Church by. The church is not particularly large, but the stained glass windows from the 1920s are a real eye-catcher. I heard a concert from the local youth band there – a bit shrill, but the acoustics were surprisingly good. The entrance area has a small umbrella shop where you can buy some handmade candles if you have the need to romantically illuminate your living room.
Another must for those who like to sniff something “rustic” flair is the Windsor Grain Elevator on the US‐51. The silver silo shaft projects like a modern monolith from the flat landscape. I spent a few hours there to photograph the sunset – the light that dances over the cornfields is almost poetic if you don't think about the next harvest all the time. Access is free, but be careful: The parking lot is a gravel path that mutates into a small mud puddle during rain.
For the bookworms among you there are Windsor Public Library. It is small, but cozy, with an old reading table that has already seen better days. I found a rare specimen of the "Illinois Gazette" from 1883 – a real treasure for history freaks. The staff is friendly, but slightly annoyed when you phone too loud. And yes, the WLAN works, so you can post your Instagram story about the “cool” village.
A bit of local pride cannot be denied if you do Windsor Township Historical Society Museum is located in the old town hall. The exhibition is a mixture of photos, old maps and a few dusty tools. I discovered an old diary that comes from a farmer from the 1910s – a real reading pleasure if you are interested in the hard life of the pioneers. The museum has no fixed opening hours, but usually the staff is there on Thursday afternoon to welcome visitors.
And finally, if you happen to be in town in the summer, don't miss the Windsor Summer Fair. The fair is a bit like a mini-state fair, only without the excessive rides. There is a cart with freshly pressed apple juice, a few local craftsmen selling their homemade candles, and a small carousel that squeaks more than an old house. I once ate a piece of corn bread that was so dry that I almost wanted to take it home as a souvenir.
If you now think that all this is a bit too much, then just look at the Windsor Attractions on a map – you will notice that most points are close to each other. This makes exploring a relaxed walk where you can stop between the individual stations to eat an ice cream or just enjoy the silence of the endless fields.
So, pack your backpack, leave the phone at home (or at least on noisy) and come to Windsor – here there are more to discover than one would suspect at first glance. And if you ask me, the old school house is definitely the highlight because it reminds me every time that history is not just in dusty books, but in the small, crunchy rooms that we all underestimate a bit too much.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
