What makes Diamond sights so special is the silent story that pulsates between the fields of Felix Township and the old railway tracks of Grundy County. I remember driving for the first time into the small village, which was founded in 1857 as a coal mine and today is more famous for its honest rural air. The old wooden buildings still the charm of the 19. Wear century settlers, tell about a place that has never really fallen out of time – he has just clocked a little slower.
The best way to get the I‐55 to the south is to take the exit to Grundy County just before the stop “Middletown” and then take the County Road 15. that is the route I always recommend because it gives you the feeling of being really off the tourist flows. On the way you can see the wide corn fields that shimmer like a golden sea in summer, and the quiet sum of the tractors, which almost already belongs to the acoustic underpainting of the village life.
I don't quite understand the hype about big metropolises, but here, between the quiet churches and the little post office, I find an authenticity that is rarely experienced in the crowded cities. And that is exactly what I mean is the true heart of Diamond – a place that welcomes its visitors with a mixture of rough honesty and surprising cordiality.
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At first glance, the old Grundy County Courthouse in Morris looks like a dusty relic from an era where every court building radiated a bit of pride – and that's what it is when you ignore the artistic pillars and the crumbling parquet. I have once observed a court appointment where the judge spent more time adjusting the old clock than leading the actual procedure. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not arrive on Friday night after the local peasant market, then the field behind the building becomes a battlefield.
A short detour to Grundy County Historical Museum is worth it because there the history of the region is presented in dusty boxes and yellowed photos – a paradise for anyone who likes to go to the past without being disturbed by Instagram influencers. I remember, as a child sitting in an old tractor, exposing the first settlers; the sound of the cracking wood was almost hypnotic. The museum is centrally located on the Main Street of Morris, and parking is right in front of the door, which is a real blessing for a car coming on the road after a long day.
Just a few miles south Kankakee River State Park, a place where nature finally speaks again. The river winds through dense forests, and the trails are so well maintained that you almost feel they are created by an overmotivated city planner. I once organized a picnic with friends that was almost completely taken over by a horde duck – no joke, the animals have dug out the bread. For anglers there are numerous places where you can catch trout, and parking is generous at the main entrances as long as you don't get to the high season, then the field becomes a true parking microcosm.
A little further east, almost in the neighboring Will County, this is Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park. The old channel, which once served as a transport path for coal and agricultural products, is today a popular path for cyclists and walkers. I once met a group of historians who argued about whether the channel was ever really economical – I just nodded and straightened on because the view of the endless fields was simply too nice to discuss. Access is well signposted, and parking at the visitor center is free as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with a whole family of canoeers.
For railway fans this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union an absolute must. It is the largest railway museum in the world, and this is not only the sheer amount of locomotives, but also the passion with which the staff keeps the history of the rail journey alive. I spent there a day where I took a place in an old steam locomotive – the pipe of the boiler was almost like a concert intended for me and a few curious children. The museum offers enough parking, but you should come early because the visitor numbers are rising quickly in the summer.
A short trip to Braidwood leads to Coal Mine Museumthe mining tradition of the region. The exhibition is not just glamorous, but the authentic tools and the original mine tunnel setup give you the feeling, really in 19. century to stand. I met a former miner there who told me that he still has the sound of falling coal blocks in the head – a conversation that made me think more about the hard work of people here than any brochure could ever. The museum is somewhat remote, but parking right in front of the entrance is practical as long as you don't get to school, then the field is full of class trips.
Whether you explore the historic ruins of Morris, relax on the river banks of the Kankakee River or swept into the old tracks of the Illinois Railway Museum – the surroundings of Diamond, Felix Township, Grundy, Illinois have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. And that's exactly what makes Diamond attractions to a small but fine treasure for those looking for authentic experiences off the mainstream.
This guide invites you to explore with me a small but surprisingly self-contained spot of earth that hardly anyone raises on the map – Diamond, a tiny place in Felix Township, Grundy County, Illinois.
I always start with the Diamond United Methodist Church, because the building already acts a bit like a forgotten movie from the 1920s when it first entered. The brick dome is not exactly an architectural wonder, but the crunching wooden benches and the crunching light through the colorful glass windows give the place a charm that I do not quite understand when I think of modern megachurches. Parking is almost always a Klacks – a small parking lot behind the church building is enough, as long as you don't touch the entire municipality on Sunday morning.
A short walk further Diamond Cemetery, which I like to describe as a silent history book of the municipality. The gravestones tell of pioneers here in the early 20th. centuries have left their mark, and of a few scrupulous inscriptions that make me sneak every time. I once tried to find the oldest date and landed almost in the earth, because a particularly weathered stone was almost completely sunk in the grass. A hint: If you are looking for a quiet place to think, bring a blanket – the benches are more intended for the elderly.
If you feel that you have enough of silent memorials, take a look at the Diamond Grain Elevator. The massive silo system is the heart of the local agricultural industry and a prime example of how a piece of industry can dominate the landscape. I once met a peasant who told me that the grain is running around the clock almost all year round – a bit like a never-ending movie, just that the popcorn here consists of corn. The site is not an official visitor park, but the surrounding of the Silos is allowed as long as you respect the barriers. And yes, parking is possible at the edge of the field road if you don't want to come too late for sunset.
A little further north, almost hidden between a few corn fields, lies the Diamond Community Park. I admit that the word “park” sounds almost exaggerated here because it is rather a small green strip with a swing and a picnic table. Nevertheless, it is the perfect place to relax a few minutes while you hear the quiet sum of the grills. I once experienced a spontaneous street musician duel between an old accordion player and a youthful guitarist – a real highlight that you should not miss if you happen to be there at noon.
Another, easily overseeable jewel is that Felix Township Hall. The 1915 building today serves as a meeting place for local events, from bingo to historical lectures. I was there at a series of lectures on the history of Grundy County and had to laugh when the speaker tried to describe the “golden times” of the 1950s with an eye-catcher. The interior of the hall is surprisingly spacious, and parking is right outside the door – a rare luxury in rural areas.
A short detour leads you to Diamond Schoolhouse, a small, restored classroom from the 1900s, which today serves as a museum for local school history. I tried an old, crunching wooden bench set there and almost lost the balance – a good example that history is not always comfortable. The museum is not always occupied, but a sign at the entrance indicates that visitors are allowed to enter at any time, as long as they are quiet and the old panels do not smash with chalk.
Last but not least, Diamond Fire Department Forget that's more than just a fire department store. The walls are spiced with old photos of burning barns and heroic stakes, and the small “museum” in the rear shows old extinguishing hoses and helmets. I met a former firefighter there who told me how he saved almost the entire village from a forest fire in the summer of 1998 – an event that he still calls an eye-catcher as “small summer evening”. Parking is right in front of the building, but on the weekend it can be a bit fuller because the volunteers often come together to practice trips.
If you ask yourself what else you can see in Diamond, just look at the Diamond attractions that I have gathered here – they are not just world famous, but they have their own, slightly slanted charm that might make you travel more often “aside the tourist paths”.
At the end of the day, when the sun goes down over the fields and shimmers the silo system in the golden light, I always feel a bit like an explorer who has just opened a forgotten chapter. And if you're wondering if you missed something else – I feel Diamond still has some secrets waiting to be discovered by a curious visitor.
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