Visit Olivet Vermilion Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small town of Olivet in Illinois! Here you will find an impressive museum for railway and industrial history. Stroll through the quiet city and enjoy the traditional American lifestyles in the local restaurant. Olivet offers a varied holiday with tranquility and culture.
To be honest, when I hear the word “Olivet Sights”, I immediately think of the inconspicuous village that was founded in 1855 as an agricultural hub in the heart of Elwood Township, Vermilion County – a place that has more charm than most guides want to admit. I traveled for the first time by train from Champaign to Olivet because I thought a short stop would be a nice trip; the train connection is sparse, but this makes the arrival all the more satisfying when you get out of the dusty car and see the open field extending up to the horizon.
The story here is not decorated with pompous monuments, but with the silent witnesses of a once blooming cereal and livestock industry. The old school, which was opened in 1902, still stands as a reminder for the hard work of the first settlers – I do not understand the hype about modern art museums, but the creeping wood of this class has more soul for me. And while I stroll through the main road, I cannot stop to notice the few but lovingly cared shops; a small diner that has been serving the same burgers since the 60s is a real secret tip when you look for an honest lunch.
A short trip to the nearby Vermilion River is convenient because you bend off the Highway 1 easily and have a few minutes walk – ideal to sniff nature without losing the comfort of the car. And yes, the “Olivet Sights” are not packed in shiny brochures, but in the small, authentic moments you only find when you are ready to overlook the obvious.
So, if you want to experience the true heart of Olivet, you must first United Methodist Church visit – this is for me the “Eiffelturm experience” here, just that it consists of red brick and a folding bell tower that seems to be ringing every time a tractor passes. I was there on a rainy Tuesday, and while I sat on the sticky wooden bench, I heard the echo of the organ, which was almost as loud as the rat of the old barn next door. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the annual Olivet Festival blocks the road.
Directly next to the church, hardly overlooking it Olivet Lutheran Church. I do not understand the hype about the “big church” completely, but the simple, white nave with the colorful glass windows has something more soothing, almost meditative. Last year I saw a small concert of a local folk band there – that was really great, because the acoustics in the small room were surprisingly clear, and I even stole a piece of apple cake from the municipal hall (no joke, I only tried it).
A short walk leads you to Olivet Cemeterywhere the tombstones tell stories you won't find in any guide. I discovered an ancient tombstone that was reported by a former railwayer from 1883 – that was my personal “History-Nugget”. The cemetery is not exactly a tourist magnet, but if you're honest, that's the kind of silence that reminds you that you don't always have to do Instagram posts.
If you've got enough of rocky stylistic pots, look at this Olivet Grain Elevator on. This monolithic silo system is what I would call the “artwork of farmers”. I stood there on a windy afternoon, and the winding of the wind through the metal flaps was almost like a soundtrack for a Western. The best thing: You can photograph the whole thing from the outside without anyone telling you that you cannot use the light – there are no strict photo restrictions here.
A little further, on the edge of the village, lies the Olivet Community Park. I made a picnic with some friends there, and we made fun of Olivet’s “big” attractions while we looked over the Vermilion River. The park has a small playground, a few benches and an access to the river where you can swim a bit in the summer – this is definitely a highlight when you are looking for some cooling.
Another jewel that I can hardly mention without a bit of swarming is that Old Olivet Schoolhouse. The building is now a mini-museum that shows the school age of the 1920s. I found an old school tableau that still shows the chalk drawings of children from the Great Depression era. This is not only a piece of history, but also a proof that Olivet has not forgotten its roots – and that is a real plus for me.
And because I don't just want to list churches and Silos, I still have to Vermilion River Trail that starts just outside Olivet. I have explored the route on a cool autumn morning, and the combination of flat terrain and the quiet stroller of the river makes hiking here an almost meditative experience. There are no exaggerated signs, but this is exactly what I appreciate at the Olivet sights: they are unpretentious, honest and somehow charming.
Finally, a short note: if you ask yourself where to park your bike, just park at the edge of the park – the locals usually allow it as long as you don't try to overtake the whole village. And if you're in Olivet the next time, don't forget to leave some time for the little things – this is the true recipe for a successful visit.
Kickapoo State Recreation Area is just a half hour drive from Olivet and is what you could call “nature that doesn’t smell too much like forest” – a bit of lake, a bit of hill, and enough space to turn off your phone without feeling guilty. The main lake, which branches right after Highway 1, is a popular spot for anglers who claim they would be “only to relax” there, although they usually arrive with a box of beer and a fishing rod. I once tried to catch a pike, and after three hours the only thing I caught was an old rubber boots – no joke, the thing was real. Parking is almost always a Klack on the main entrance as long as you do not arrive on Saturday night, then the field turns into a mini-concert area for tractor fans.
A few kilometers further north, Busey Woods, a forest piece that is cultivated by the city of Danville and that I like to name as “the green lung of the area”, although it looks more like an oversized backyard. The trails are well marked, and the sign at the entrance, announced in bright green “Busey Woods – Nature Preserve”, is almost an artwork for itself. I remember stumbled over a crashed tree in the autumn and huged almost one oak – that was the first time I came so close to a tree that I wanted to count his annual rings. For cyclists there is a separate path that is perfect for fast training; the only thing you should pay attention to is the occasional wild boar that likes to sneak into the middle of the way.
If you have enough trees, the path continues to the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, which is housed in an old, slightly down building from the 1920s. The museum is a bit like a collection of local pride and over-ambiguous art projects – there are paintings that look more like amateur experiments, and also historical exhibits that give you the feeling that you are trapped in a time capsule from the era of conveyors. I took part in a guided tour where the curator explained that the “local art scene” was a “aspiring phenomenon”; I was wondering if he really meant that or was just polite. Parking is free directly in front of the museum, but you have to count on a few bicycles that serve as an exhibition.
A short detour to the Vermilion County War Memorial brings you back to reality, and that's exactly what you sometimes need after all the nature and art excursions. The monument stands on a small hill on the outskirts of the city and is surrounded by a well-kept meadow that is used in summer by families who spread picnic blankets. I once observed a veteran meeting where an older gentleman told me that he fought near Okinawa during the Second World War – a conversation that reminded me that history lives not only in dusty books but also in the wrinkles of the faces. The monument is accessible around the clock, and parking is practically directly in front of the gate where a single parking space is reserved for visitors.
The Danville River Walk is another highlight that I cannot overlook because it extends along the Illinois River and overlooks the industrial past of the region. The path is well developed, with wooden planks that can become slippery in rain – that is better not to get into the flip-flops if you don't want to risk slipping like a wet penguin. I once rented a kayak and pushed down the river, only to find that the flow was slower than my patience thread after a long working day. There are numerous benches for walkers, and parking is usually easy on the main access at Riverfront Park, except for the days when the local music festival takes place.
An architectural jewel that you should not miss is the Vermilion County Courthouse, an impressive red brick building that throns in the heart of Danville. The court building is not only a symbol of local administration, but also a popular photo pot for Instagram users who want to post the “classic” American judicial image. I took part in a trial there – not because I am a legal fan, but because I thought it was a good material for my next blog story. The trial was surprisingly exciting, and the building itself has a small museum in the basement that exhibits old court records. Parking is possible in a small underground garage behind the building; the fees are minimal, but the sign “No Parking on Sundays” is strict to note.
A visit to the Danville Farmers Market, which takes place on the fairgrounds every Saturday morning, is worthwhile for a little local flair. Here there are fresh vegetables, homemade jams and the infamous “canflower cheese pizza”, which according to a stand operator is “a must for every visitor” – I have tried them and can confirm that they are actually a must if you like the taste of cheese and grain flowers at the same time. The market is a great place to talk to locals; I once met an old farmer who told me that he has been running the same farm since 1952 and still uses the same tools. Parking is sufficient at the edge of the fairground as long as you do not arrive with the tractor.
Whether you're looking for peace at the Lake of Kickapoo, feel the history of Vermilion County War Memorial or just want to enjoy a piece of local culture at the Danville Farmers Market – the surroundings of Olivet offer more than enough variety to surprise any traveler. And that's exactly what makes Olivet sights to an underestimated treasure in the heart of Illinois.
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