Travelers from all over the world appreciate Central City attractions because of their surprising mix of history and rural charm. I have to admit that I have never really understood why the small village in the heart of Braceville Township makes so much emphasis on its past – until I stood there and the old coal mine from the early 20th. Century saw that once formed the backbone of the municipality. The city was founded in 1907 when the railway line from Chicago to St. Louis set a stop here, and since then it has experienced more ups and downswings than an eight-way designer retired. Anyone who likes to philosophize about forgotten industrial cultures finds here a few rusty relics that tell more than any guide.
A short trip to Grundy County Seat, Morris, is practical because the train stops from Chicago to St. Louis – a fast transfer if you don't want to drive along the whole Highway 6. As soon as you leave the road 53 and turn into the flat fields of Central City, you can immediately feel that the speed here is slower, but the smile of the locals is all the wider. I tried the little diner on Main Street – no Michelin, but the homemade apple cake is really great, and the service knows every visitor by name. And yes, Central City sights are not just the old mine; the annual autumn parade, where everyone starts with a self-made pumpkin car, is a real highlight that I would put to everyone who seeks a little rustic charm.
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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 Central City, 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 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie – a huge piece of unspoiled green that stretches around 30 miles east of Central City. I remember the morning when I drove over the sandy paths with my old railcar and suddenly was surrounded by a swarm of field buns; that was not a tourist trick, that was pure wilderness. Parking is usually easy at the visitor center, as long as you don't arrive at the weekend with the families from Chicago, the field will quickly become the car park chaos. The path leads through high grasses, which fall out in the wind, and if you're lucky, you'll be briefing a few bison that will be relocated here – a sight that sounds almost too cheesy, but actually impressive.
A short detour to Morris brings you to Grundy County Historical Museumhoused in a charming old bank building. I found an old diary there that belonged to a mine worker from the 1920s; the handwritten notes about daily life were a real look behind the scenes of the region. The museum is centrally located on Main Street, so you can easily stroll into a café after your visit. Parking is almost always free on the small farm behind the building, unless you are there on Saturday night, then the field is overrun by local events.
If you want to feel the heart of a real miner, that is Braidwood Coal Mine Museum A must. I made my first lead there with a former miner who told me that he was looking for coal at night in the dark, because the light in the cleats fell out – no joke, that was his everyday life. The exhibition is small, but the atmosphere is close to the dust in the mines. The museum is located directly on Highway 53, so parking is a children's game as long as you are not there at the main traffic time.
A little further north, almost on the border to Indiana, lies the Kankakee River State Park. I spent a weekend fishing there, and was persuaded by a friendly angler named Dave to spend a few hours in the river, although I had actually planned a short walk. The park offers hiking trails, picnic areas and a small boat dock – ideal if you want to bring your kayak. Parking is free on the main entrance, but on sunny Saturdays the field fills up faster than a popcorn stand at a film festival.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Illinois Railway Museum in Union. This is the largest railway museum in the world, and I spent more than five hours exploring old steam locomotives that still start with a quiet cliche. Once I let myself sit on the cab of a 1900-locator by a voluntary leader – that was a bit like a trip-trip, only without the annoying paradoxa. The museum is a bit off the main road, but parking is generous and free as long as you are not there on the first Saturday of the month, then there is a small ticket system for special events.
For a little rest and pure nature I recommend Morris Dam and the adjacent Morris Lake. I made a picnic with friends there while we tried to find the perfect spot for a photo of the sunset – the result was an image that showed more water than heaven, but that was part of the charm. The lake is ideal for fishing, swimming and even for small boating when you have a inflatable. Parking is free at the Dam itself, but it can be done on weekends because the families come from the surrounding suburbs.
Finally a small but fine place: the St. James Catholic Church in Braceville. I once took part in a midnight fair because I thought that was a good photo motif – the Gothic architecture at candlelight is really impressive, and the church is surprisingly warm when you first broke the ice. The church grounds have a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty, except when the annual village festival takes place, then the field becomes an improvised parking lot for food trucks.
Whether you are a nature lover, a history fan or just a curious traveler, the surrounding area of Central City offers a colorful mix of Central City Attractions, who write a new chapter every day – and all this with a touch of rustic charm that is rarely found.
This guide invites you to make a small but self-contained trip through Central City with me – yes, just the tiny village you would easily overlook if you didn't accidentally miss Highway 53.
I always start with the Central City Parkbecause there beats the true heart of the place. The lawn is not exactly a golf course, but the old wooden bench next to the baseball field has captured some sunset over the fields of Grundy. I once made a picnic with a friend, and while we complained about the “Great City” air, an older gentleman came by with a remotely controlled model aircraft – a real highlight, considering that the park is hardly more than a field with a few trees.
A short walk further Central City. The building is a bit like an old school house that has turned into an event center – with a small kitchen that smells more like “cantine charms” than gourmet. I experienced a local bingo evening event where the winner got a voucher for the city's only snack bar. No joke, that was the highlight of the evening, because the competition consisted of three people.
You can't talk about Central City without the iconic Water tower to mention. This rusty colossus of red brick projects over the main road and is what I call lovingly “the old guard”. I once tried to make a photo that shows the tower in the sunset, and the result was a slightly blurred picture because a passing tractor ruined the scene – but that's just the authentic flair that prevails here.
A short detour to United Methodist Church reveals a piece of history that you cannot simply overlook. The church ship from the 1880s has a simple but impressive stained glass window that dips into a warm light at sunshine. I heard a little concert from a local youth band there; the acoustics was surprisingly good when considering the simple wooden bench arrangement.
For those who appreciate the industrial heritage of the region, this is Central City Grain Elevator A must. The silver silo shaft, which protrudes beyond the village, recall that grain has been the backbone of the economy for generations. I spent there a day with a farmer who explained to me why the “Knistern” of the grains sounds almost like music when unloading – a sound that is otherwise found only in audio books about the Great Plains.
A little away from the hustle and bustle Central City Fire Department, which is not only a working centre, but also a small museum. There are old firefighters and a rusty hose from the 1950s. I once met a volunteer fireman who told me that the biggest fire they've ever had was a barbecue – that was probably the most ironic anecdote I've ever heard.
If you are looking for a compact overview, simply tap “Central City Sights” into your search engine – you will quickly notice that the list is short but full of character. And yes, that means that you don't have to walk through endless tourist trails for hours, but come straight to the real, slightly slanted highlights.
Finally, a little hint: parking is usually a children's game, except on Saturday night when the weekly flea market spectacle takes place at the town hall and suddenly everyone tries to get a free place. Then it means coming early or coming by bike – both have their own charm, and that's what Central City is.
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