Visit Clinton DeWitt Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Clinton, Illinois: Fascinating natural experiences in the Shawnee National Forest! Walking, climbing or boating - adventure for all!
What makes Clinton's sights so special is the unique mix of historical simplicity and a pinch of rural defiance, which you can feel right away by going along the old railway line that once formed the backbone of the city. I remember when I was a child with my grandfather stumbled over the dusty tracks and he told me that Clinton was founded in 1833 as a “middletown” before it assumed today’s name in 1835 – a change of name that was almost as common as the renamings of the surrounding farms. Today, the city is cozy in the Clintonia Township, nestled in the vast DeWitt County, and you can feel it at first glance on the gentle fields that surround the surrounding area.
A short trip by car via the I‐39 or a short stop at the Amtrak station in the neighboring town of DeWitt is enough to arrive here – no joke, the traffic network is surprisingly convenient for a piece of mediumland. I do not always understand the hype about the “small cities with charm” but here, between the old barns and the few but well-preserved shops, I find an authenticity that is rarely experienced in the crowded metropolises. And as I stroll through the main road, I think: Whoever comes here quickly discovers that the true heart of Clinton is not in museums or tourist brochures, but in conversations with the people who still carry the old “Clinton feeling” in their voices.
This guide invites you to stroll through the inconspicuous heart of DeWitt County, where I unpack my favorite places in Clinton – yes, this little spot in the Middle West – as if I had just returned from the pub and had a beer in my head.
I always start with DeWitt County Courthouse because the thing is just too beautiful to overlook it. The brick building dating back to 1903 dominates the main road, and when you ask yourself why I'm standing here, while you're probably waiting for a starbucks in Chicago: the massive dome, the artistic masonry and the fact that there were genuine court negotiations here before, give the place a bit of drama that you're looking for in vain in most suburbs. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the entire county flows into the “Courthouse-Bier-Fest”.
A short walk on (and yes, this is a bit ironic because I’m talking about “short” while I’m talking about a few blocks) leads you to Clinton Opera House. The venerable theater from 1885 has seen more dust layers than an antique shop, but the acoustics are still amazing – I have heard a local jazz quartet that had more talent than most bands I saw in Chicago. If you're lucky, there's a movie classic right now, otherwise you can still enjoy the original wooden seats, which crawl when you sit down – an acoustic souvenir you can't buy.
Now a little culture for those who think that “culture” only exists in metropolises: DeWitt County Historical Society Museum is in the former prison, and this is not only a cool fact, but also a hint that the city does not hide its history, but rather exposes it to cells. I found an old Farmer logbook there that reveals more about the weather of 1910 than any weather app. And yes, the museum has no long opening hours, but that doesn't matter – you can stand there for hours and ask yourself why you didn't just want to stay at home.
A little light in the dark museum? The Clinton Public Library, a Carnegie building of 1912, is my personal retreat. I spent more hours there than I want to admit, because the reading rooms are so cozy that you almost forget that you're actually just looking for a coffee. The building itself is an architectural gem – high ceilings, massive windows and a fireplace that actually works in winter. If you're looking for a book about the history of Clinton, you'll find it here, and if not, then at least a good place to daydream.
For those who prefer to be outside, there is the Clinton Riverwalk. The path stretches along the Kaskaskia River and offers a view that is almost too beautiful to be true – especially in autumn, when the leaves dip the bridges into a red fire. I once met an old angler who told me that he has been here every Sunday since 1975, and I thought: “Wow, this is more stability than my last relationship.” The path is well maintained, and parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not come on Friday night after the “Riverwalk-Bier Festival”.
A short trip to the centre leads you to the Clinton sights city center: colorful murals, old brick alleys and small shops that have more character than some chain restaurants. I tried the best homemade ice cream here – a vanilla-mandel mix that almost made me think about my diet. And if you ask yourself why I mention this: because the real life takes place here, not in the sterile shopping malls.
Finally, a secret tip that only locals know: Clinton Farmers Market Saturday morning. Fresh vegetables, homemade bread and a stand where an older gentleman sells his homemade applesauce that tastes better than anything you would find in the supermarket. I've had more talks there than in every bar in the city, and that's not just the coffee they serve there. So if you want to feel the true heart of Clinton, then don't let it go away – and bring some empty bags with you, otherwise you go home with empty hands.
The first stop is the sparkling water of Clinton Lakethat stretches like a mirror over the fields and gives everyone who sees it from the street the feeling that you are in the middle of a postcard paradise – until you realize that parking on weekends is a small battlefield because the families with their picnic baskets and the loud children's voices flood the shore.
A short detour to the north leads me to Kickapoo State Recreation Areaa piece of wood that has more trees than I can count in my whole life. I spent a weekend there, characterized by a sudden rainfall and a horde duck, who bravely sniffed my hiking shoes. The trails are well marked, and the visitor centre has more information brochures than an office crate cellar, but that's exactly what I love in such places – a bit of chaos that still works somehow.
Just a few miles further, almost like a secret club for railway freaks, this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union. I confess I was skeptical because I thought it was just a dusty storage room full of rusty rails. Instead, I found an impressive collection of historical features that are so well preserved that you can almost hear the whistle of the locomotive guide when you close the doors. The museum is free to enter, but parking is a bit like a riddle – on Saturday morning there is always a place when you come early enough, otherwise you have to take a detour over the field road.
A bit further west, almost a small road trip, this is Peoria Riverfront Museum. I spent an afternoon there while trying to understand the art installation consisting of old ship propellers and neon lights – a real headbreaker, but at the same time a real eye-catcher. The museum is located directly on the river, so that after the visit you can take a walk on the shore, and parking is usually a Klack, as long as you do not come to the main event.
Back to the east, only about half an hour drive, lies the charming Bloomington, where the David Davis Mansion stands – the former home of the Supreme Judge of the Supreme Court, which is today a museum. I was surprised how well preserved the Victorian furniture and the artistic ceiling paintings are; it feels like sitting in a time capsule curated by a slightly overturned historian. The entrance is free, but parking can be a bit tricky when the college event is running.
Located next to the property Miller Park, a green spot in the city that has more to offer than just a few benches. I made a picnic there, while a street musician played an accordion that was so loud that the ducks in the nearby pond flew away. The park is ideal for a short stay, and parking is usually easy as long as you don't get to lunchtime when the families come in with their bikes.
When you explore the surroundings of Clinton, you can quickly discover that the region has more to offer than just a few fields and a small city center. From the quiet shores of Clinton Lake to the woody trails of Kickapoo to the historical treasures of the Illinois Railway Museum and the cultural highlights in Peoria and Bloomington – there is something to discover for every taste. And that's exactly what makes Clinton sights to an underestimated jewel in the heart of Illinois.
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