Manhattan Will Illinois - Top Sights 

• Manhattan Sights – A Trip through Manhattan Township, Will County
• Manhattan Sights & Attractions
• - Manhattan Historical Museum
• - Manhattan Town Hall
• - Manhattan Community Center
• - Manhattan River Trail
• - Manhattan Park
• - St John the Baptist Catholic Church

Manhattan Sights – A Trip through Manhattan Township, Will County

Travelers from all over the world appreciate Manhattan attractions because of their unique mix of history and rural charm, and I must admit that the little town in Will County has surprised me more than I wanted to admit. Already in 1855, when the railroad slit the prairie, Manhattan grew out of a modest post – a piece of frontier romance that is still noticeable today in the old brick houses. Who comes here immediately realizes that the city is not only a name cuvette of New York, but an independent place with a history that tells of German settlers, the grain boom and the inevitable rise of the agricultural industry.

I like to travel by train from Chicago, because the short journey over the I‐55 catapults me immediately into the wide but surprisingly well-connected world of Manhattan – bus lines and a small but reliable airport complete the picture. The people here, a mix of farmers, students of the nearby Illinois State University and a few curious hipsters, give the place a slightly slanted flair that I rarely find elsewhere.

Manhattan sights are for me fewer monuments, but rather the feeling of sitting on a sunny afternoon at Main Street Café, listening to the quiet sums of the tractors in the background and realizing that the real highlight here is the authentic everyday life. So whoever seeks a place that breathes history, but does not suffocate in tourist crowds, should look past here – no joke, that is my personal secret tip.

Manhattan Sights & Attractions

This guide invites you to stroll with me through the inconspicuous but self-willing heart of Manhattan, Illinois – yes, just the small town you would easily overlook if you don’t accidentally walk along Highway 55 and suddenly discover a sign with “Welcome to Manhattan”.

I must admit right at the beginning that I don't understand the whole hype around the huge metropolises, but that Manhattan Historical Museum Here's a real secret tip. The old school building, which now serves as a museum, houses dusty school books from the 1920s, a few yellowed photos of horse carriages and a tiny diorama of the first harvest festivals. I spent almost an hour there because I wondered why someone put so much effort in the storage of coffee cups from the school cafeteria – but then I realized that these little things are drawing the image of a community that you find nowhere else. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturdays, when the museum is overrun by a local flea market and you are looking for a free parking space between old tractors and vintage dresses.

A short walk leads you to Manhattan Town Hall, a building that has more charm than any modern glass facade. The red bricks and the cracking wooden window give you the feeling of landing in a movie from the 1950s. There you often meet the mayor, who always speaks a bit too enthusiastic about the “new green spaces” – a sentence that I respond every time with a quiet “real?” while reviewing the freshly sown rose beds.

If you're looking for a place where you can really feel like a local, that's it. Manhattan Community Center Your goal. The swimming pool is small, but the water is surprisingly warm, and the swimmaster knows every visitor by name – a luxury that is missing in the crowded halls of large cities. I once won a spontaneous Badminton tournament with a few teenagers from the area; that was not a joke, and the prize money consisted of a bag of rubber bears, which I no longer got out of my mouth until the next day.

A little further north, along the Des Plaines River Trail, lies the Manhattan River Trail. The path is well developed, ideal for a morning jogging round or a cozy walk with the dog. I met an older gentleman there who told me that he has been jogging here for over 30 years and that the noise of the river is the only sound he still knows about his youth. Practical: Parking at the trail entrance is usually free, except when a local running event takes place – then the whole becomes a small mess of treadmills and water bottles.

For those who need a little green, Manhattan Park A must. The baseball fields are not of a professional standard, but the local teams give their best, and the audience – mostly parents with barbecue pliers in hand – ensures an atmosphere that is otherwise found only in small suburbs. I once made a picnic with a group of friends complaining about the “big” urban planning, while we discussed the best hot-dog stands nearby.

Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The church is not only a place of prayer, but also an architectural gem with a stone facade that almost glows in the sunset. I have once witnessed a concert of a local jazz quartet – a surprisingly good mix of sacral music and improvised soli, which brought the otherwise so quiet community to a nap.

And yes, if you have a list of Manhattan Attractions Looking for, you will not find the usual tourist magnets here, but rather what life is in a small city: honest people, a bit of dust, a touch of history and a lot of opportunity to ask you why you have been pushed away from Chicago at all. I'm not closing up with a conclusion because this is a conversation among friends – so, grab your car, your bike or your running shoes and experience what Manhattan, Illinois has to offer.