Visit Strasburg Shelby Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Strasburg, Illinois: An exciting adventure holiday! Discover the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Sorry, no cake, but the Amish Country is close!
Travelers from all over the world appreciate Strasburg sights for their surprisingly rural authenticity, and I have to admit that I was skeptical before discovering the small charm of Richland Township in Shelby County. The city was founded in 1857 when the railway line slit the prairie, and since then it has hardly been removed from its original ground plan – a bit like a museum that has never been completely closed. I love to stroll through the dusty roads in the morning and hear the quiet ratter of the tractors, which almost looks like a metronome for slow life here.
If you come from Chicago by car, just follow I‐70 to Shelby exit; the country roads lead you directly to the heart of Strasburg, where the sign “Welcome to Strasburg” radiates more pride than any city. I often wondered why people are still running the old General Store here, but then I remember the smile of the shop owners being real – no Instagram filter needed.
Once in the summer I like to sit on the veranda of the old civic house and observe how the children plan at the nearby creek. The story is not only chiseled in stone, it lives in the conversations of the inhabitants, who are proud of their community, while thinking about the next harvest. And yes, the Strasburg sights are not just a word game – they are what makes this place a quiet but unmistakable chapter in the book of the Middle West.
This guide invites you to explore with me a small but surprisingly charming spot in the heart of Richland Township – Strasburg, Illinois. I have to admit, I came here only because of a date with an old school friend, but after the first look at the crunching sign in front of the historic school building I was tied up.
The Strasburg School is my personal favorite place, not only because it offers a perfect photo motif for Instagram filters. The old red brick building from the 1880s houses today a small museum that tells the history of the municipality in dusty class books, old school boards and a collection of yellowed yearbooks. I spent an hour there while a retired teacher told me about the hard winters in which the children had to stab at school in the snow – a picture that you don't forget so easily. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the small car park becomes a battlefield quickly.
A short walk leads you to St. Mary's Catholic Church, whose gothic pointed arch windows and the creeping wooden gate almost seem like a movie of 1950. I don't always understand the hype about church architecture, but here the church ship has something soothing that forces me a little bit to hold in every time. The interior is surprisingly well preserved, and the hand carved benches tell stories of generations who celebrated their weddings and funerals here. If you're lucky, you'll hear the quiet marble of a choir sample – a sound that makes the village life almost tangible.
For those who prefer to roam outdoors, the Strasburg Community Park A must. The lawn is not always perfectly mowed, but this keeps the children (and the adults who want to feel like children) from resting. I started a spontaneous baseball game there on a lukewarm summer evening with a few locals – the result was a mess of laughter, smeared hot dogs and a slightly sloppy victory for the team that I randomly led. The small playground is easily accessible, and parking is possible directly at the edge of the park as long as you are not here at the wedding time of the year, then the field of wedding cars is overrun.
Another landmark you should not overlook is the old Grain elevator on the railway line. It is like a rusty guard over the fields and reminds Strasburg was once an important hub for cereals exports. I once met a local historian who told me that the grinder is still working occasionally – a sound that you only hear in documentary films. The whole thing has a slightly melancholic charm, and the photo I shot there now has an honorary place in my living room.
If you're looking for a place where you can move back and read a book, then this is Strasburg Public Library That's right. The library is small, but the staff is warm and knows everyone who has ever borrowed a book. I found an old Almanach from the 1920s, which contains amazingly detailed weather records for the region – a real treasure for Nerds like me. Parking is right in front of the building, and the sign “Please be quiet” looks almost like a joke here, because most visitors are whispering anyway.
A short detour to Strasburg Cemetery is also worth it. The tombstones tell stories you can't find in any guide – from veterans of the First World War to a man who allegedly killed a bear in the forest (a local myth that I could never fully believe, but the inscription is real). I discovered an old, semi-dirty tomb that ends with an engraved spell: “Here is a man who never came too late.” That made me sneak and at the same time voted a little bit thoughtful.
Last but not least, you must not forget the small but fine shops in the center. The Strasburg General Store is a true museum for everything you need in a small town – from homemade cakes to handmade wooden toys. I tried a freshly baked apple cake there, which was so good that I almost took the whole piece home. Parking here is a bit tricky, because the shop is right on the main road, but a short walk from the park is not a problem.
So, next time you ask about Illinois and ask yourself if you should go to a sleepy village, think about Strasburg. The Strasburg sights are not exactly the biggest attractions of the state, but they have character, history and a bit of the rough charm you rarely find in the big cities. And honestly, this is exactly what I love in such places – they are unsightly, a bit selfish and always ready to surprise you with a story that you don't hear anywhere else.
The first stop I always recommend is that Shelby County Historical Museum in the neighboring town of Shelby – a tiny building that houses more dust and stories than one would expect from a museum. I saw an old tractor there, which apparently reveals more about the local economy than any business magazine, and a few yellowed newspaper sheets that document the boom of the 1920s. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly senior meeting takes place in the rear courtyard.
A few miles further, almost a small detour, lies Lake Shelbyville State Park. I don’t understand the hype about “water sports paradises”, but there are actually clear lakes that invite you to paddling, and a network of hiking trails that show more than just a few trees – here you can even take a dawn. I once tried to borrow a canoe, and the staff told me with an eye-catcher that the water in August is rather lukewarm than refreshing.
If you have enough of nature, the path leads back to the city Shelby County Courthouse. The building is a real relic from the Victorian era, with a dome that shines more than most modern office buildings. I once observed a court appointment there – no fun, but the acoustics in the hall lets you believe you are in an opera house. And yes, parking is always a mystery here, because the town hall still insists on the old “parking only for residents” sign.
A short detour to the north brings you to Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area. Here there are more ducks than tourists, and this is exactly what I appreciate in such places: no overcrowded picnic tables, but real wilderness. I once found a rare fishing specialist book that someone had left in the forest – a lucky case for a hobby angler like me.
For those who prefer to experience something “local” this is Miller’s Farm Market near a must. Fresh vegetables, homemade jam and a friendly owner who offers every visitor a piece of apple cake because “this is the way we live here”. I had a conversation there about the history of maize cultivation, which lasted longer than the waiting time at the checkout.
Another highlight that I cannot overlook is that Old Union Church – a small wooden church built since 19th. Century stands. The benches crack, the light falls through colorful glass windows, and you have the feeling that here every sermon carries a piece of history. I once saw a concert from a local folk band that had more charm than any big city hall.
Whether you are looking for history, nature or just a piece of rural charm – the surroundings of Strasburg offer a colourful mix that surprises every traveler. And if you want to summarize all this, you think of the Strasburg Sights, which have more to offer than one would suspect at first sight.
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