Olney Richland Illinois - Top Sights 

• Olney Attractions – Olney Township, Richland County
• Olney Sights & Attractions
• - Richland County Historical Museum
• - Olney Carnegie Library
• - Olney City Park
• - White City
• - Olney Public Square
• - Olney Community Center

Olney Attractions – Olney Township, Richland County

For centuries, Olney has been attracting landmarks to people who believe they could feel the true heart of the Middle West – and I must admit that the rumor has a grain of truth. The city was founded in 1855, named after an Irish politician, and has since experienced more field battles with the economy than with real soldiers. I like to drive over the old route 33, which here sounds like a sleeping giant through the flat land of Olney Township; a short stop at Highway-45 lets me quickly turn into the small but proud municipality of Richland County.

When I stroll through the main road, you can immediately feel that people here have a little too much pride in their barbecue pliers – no joke, the BBQ scenes are almost a local cult. I don't quite understand the hype for the annual Corn Festival, but the colorful driving alongside the old town hall is really great if you want to enjoy the country life in full. The old brick buildings tell stories of railroads that once stopped here, and I can't imagine how the first train drivers are in alignment with the dusty tracks.

A short detour to nearby Lake Olney (yes, this is not a mistake) offers a quiet backdrop that you really appreciate after a long day in the car. And while I'm sitting here, I think that anyone who explores Olney quickly discovers that the true Olney sights are not in brochures, but in the conversations with the locals who tell you with an eye-catcher why life here tastes better than any gourmet burglar in Chicago.

Olney Sights & Attractions

This guide invites you to stroll with me through the rather inconspicuous but surprisingly charming Olney – yes, just the Olney that you can easily overlook because it is not on the list of “must-see” cities. I have to admit, I was initially skeptical, but the old, fooling gate to Richland County Historical Museum pulled me into his spell right away. The museum is housed in the venerable, former court building, which still seems to have the echo of former negotiations. There you will find not only dusty documents, but also a collection of artifacts that have rural life in the 19th century. Make century alive – from old agricultural machinery to handmade furniture. I almost felt like a time traveler, until a bored visitor, beside me, said loudly that it was “only for old people” that I could only sneak because the museum is doing exactly that: it does not let the past die completely.

A short walk further (and a bit of luck that the weather was not just a tropical storm) leads to Olney Carnegie Library. This library is a real jewel from the era when philanthropists still distributed books in small cities to promote “mass formation”. The white façade and the high windows give her an almost sacral flair – I felt there almost obligated to borrow a book, just to have the feeling of doing something cultivated. Practical: Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly reading festival takes place and everyone tries to get a place.

If you have enough of dusty archives, that is Olney City Park exactly the counterpart you need. The little lake there is not the Grand Canyon, but it reflects the sun so beautiful that I almost forgot that I was just here to shoot a few photos. The route around the lake is perfect for a short walk, and the local ducks seem as enthusiastic about tourists as I am – they dare to venture directly on the visitors as they wanted to say: “Hey, you are welcome here, but we have discovered the water first.” I even made a picnic there with a local baker who sold me a piece of “Olney cake” that is supposed to come after an old family recipe. No joke, that was really good.

Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is what the locals lovingly White City name – the historic city centre with its bright white brick buildings. There is more graffiti art here than in some of a big city, and the small boutiques sell handmade soaps that allegedly contain the water of the nearby lake. I went there a little bit because I thought I found a café serving “local specialties” and instead I landed in an antique shop that had more stories to tell than the museum. The owner, an elderly man with a mustache, told me that the neighborhood was in the early 20th. Century was celebrated as a “white miracle” – a bit exaggerated, but hey, this is Olney.

A short detour to Olney Public Square brings you back to the heart of the city. There is the iconic water tower, a relic from the 1920s, which today serves more as a photo motif. I did a few selfies there, while a street musician fed an old country ballad – that was almost like turning a scene from an indie film, only that the main actors were a 70-year-old man and a rusty tower. And yes, the word “Olney Sights” appears here almost like a mantra, because at this point you have the feeling that every corner could fill another chapter in a guide.

At the end of my little Odyss Lake through Olney, I have to Olney Community Center mention. Local events take place regularly – from art exhibitions to small concerts. I was just about to check out the next event when an older gentleman pointed out that the center was the “heart of the city” because everyone here comes together to celebrate, discuss and sometimes jam a bit. I then signed up for a spontaneous dance course because I thought it was a good way to get to know the locals better. Result: I have won two new friends and a few embarrassing dance steps that I prefer to remember.

So, next time you ask about Illinois and ask yourself if you should make a trip to Olney – yes, do that. The city has more to offer than one would suspect at first sight, and I promise you that you will end up with a smile and maybe return a few new stories in your luggage.