Honestly, if you're wondering why I'm talking about Sheldon, Illinois at all, this is because of his inconspicuous story that somehow fascinates me. Founded in 1850 as a small railway hub, the town grew thanks to its connection to the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railway – a name that today hardly anyone can speak out, but at the time this was the “Silicon Valley” of the Middle West. The township, which extends over 36 square miles, is located in Iroquois County, a region formerly dominated by corn fields and cattle herds, and today still carries the scent of fresh hay in the air. I don't quite understand the hype about the endless cornfields, but the rural flair is really great if you want to escape the big-city trout.
A short trip by car from Chicago (about three hours over the I‐57) will take you to the heart of Sheldon – not a buckling-tourist trap, a few honest faces and a station that still carries the echo of past steam locomotives. And yes, if you ask where you can park: the small parking lot behind the town hall is practical, and a short walk leads you to the Sheldon sights that I want to perform later more closely. I have the feeling that every stone has a story to tell here, and that makes the visit a small, slightly cynical adventure you will not regret.
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The first stop I put to every visitor is the Iroquois County Historical Museum in Watseka – just about 15 miles east of Sheldon. The building itself is a relic from the 1910s, and inside artefacts are stacked, which document rural life in the Middle West in all its dusty splendour. I spent hours there to marvel at old agricultural machinery, and must admit that the sound of a 1920's tractor starting sequence is almost hypnotic. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you do not come to the special exhibition on Saturday night – then the field before the museum becomes a small battlefield from cars.
A short detour to the south leads to the Kankakee River State Park, where the water of the river is so clear that you almost feel like standing in a postcard image. I spent a few hours on the shore, fished a bit and then walked on the well-developed trails – not that I had lost myself, but the paths are so angled that you can easily get the feeling of discovering a piece of wildness that has not yet been overrun by tourists. The picnic places are not luxurious, but practical, and parking is not a problem thanks to the generous lottery places.
Back in Watseka, the imposing Iroquois County Courthouse is not missing. The brick building from 1865 radiates a kind of majestic boredom, which I find somehow charming. I spent a few hours there to admire the artistic wood carvings inside – a real eye-catcher for those who love architecture without being an architect. The small parking lot behind the courthouse is almost always free, unless a local court appointment attracts the whole city.
If you are in the area in August, the Iroquois County Fairgrounds is the epicentre of action. The annual County Fair is a mix of rags, cattle shows and a lot of local cuisine that you can hardly find. For the first time I tried a freshly grilled corn-piston sandwich there – no joke, that was better than anything I ever eat in the urban food trucks. The site offers enough parking space, but on the main day, the field fills up faster than a pop-up concert, i.e. better come early.
The Watseka Golf Club, an 18-hole course that has more charm than an average city course, is a little distance from crowds. I played a few rounds there, while the sun slowly sneaks behind the fields – this is the true “Midwest feeling”. The club has a small but well organized parking, and the clubhouse serves a coffee that is strong enough to get you after the 12th. Break up the hole again.
For those who prefer to travel on two wheels, the Prairie Trail is a real secret tip. The cycle path stretches through the wide fields of Iroquois County and connects several small cities, including Sheldon. I explored the trail on a windy morning and saw more of the quiet beauty of the prairie than I would have ever found in a guide. The entrance is well signposted at several places, and parking at the trail head points is usually easy.
Another highlight that I can hardly expect every year is the Antique Tractor Show that takes place at the Iroquois County Fairgrounds. There, restored tractors from the 1930s and 1940s are standing next to each other, and you can literally smell history – a mix of old oil and fresh land air. I have always been inspired by the passion of the owners who care for every part to the smallest detail. The terrain is large enough that parking is rarely a topic as long as you do not arrive with the entire village at the same time.
A short trip to the south leads to Miller’s Farm, a family-run company that lifts agri tourism to the next level. There you can not only taste fresh milk directly from the udder, but also take part in a short guided tour of cheese production – an experience that I would personally call “real great”. The farm is about 20 miles from Sheldon, and parking is just next to the farm shop a Klacks.
Whether you are a history fan, nature lover, golf enthusiast or just curious about the real country life – the environment of Sheldon has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. These Sheldon Sights show that the heart of the Middle West consists not only of fields, but of stories, people and small adventures waiting to be discovered.
I must confess the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Sheldon is that Sheldon Community Park. The place is not just a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but here you can spread a picnic on a lukewarm summer afternoon, while the children are looking forward to the slightly sloping swings – a real piece of midwestern charm that you don't find every day. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, it becomes a real problem because then the whole county flows here to celebrate the annual barbecue and beer festival.
A short walk (or a short sprint, if you don't want to ignore the grill smell signal) will lead you to Sheldon Public Library. I once borrowed a book about the history of corn production, only to establish that the librarians know more about local politics than any talkshow moderator. The shelves are not overcrowded with the latest bestsellers, but the cozy reading shackle is really great, and the Wi-Fi works – a small victory for all who want to work on the train to Chicago and still sniff a little village atmosphere.
If you have enough of books, see that Sheldon Historical Museum on. The museum is housed in the old school building, which formerly had more pupils than the whole village inhabitants. I found an old school uniform there that was so old that I almost thought she was a relic from the colonial period. The exhibition is small, but the stories that the locals tell are bigger than the whole museum itself – and that's exactly what I love in small places.
A little further down the main road, and you see this imposing Sheldon Grain Elevator. I don't quite understand the hype about giant silos, but here he is, a gray colossus that overlooks the whole country. I once asked a local peasant why he loves the elevator, and he just said, “Because he is the only one that is never crowded.” This was a real laugh, and at the same time a good example of how important these structures are for the economy.
A short detour to Sheldon United Methodist Church (yes, this is actually a place I can recommend) shows you that not everything in Sheldon consists only of grain and park benches. The church of 1905 has a beautiful but slightly weathered wooden window, which looks almost like a kaleidoscope in the sunlight. I once had a Sunday concert there – no joke, the community invited a jazz quartet, and that was the best “culture experience” since my last trip to New York.
A bit away from the main road lies the Sheldon Water Tower. I know a water tower doesn't sound like “must-see”, but it's the landmark you recognize from the highway right away. I took a photo there that now hangs in my living room, because it somehow captures the whole “small city feeling” – a high, rusty cylinder that watches over the fields.
And because I don't just want to mention the usual points, here's another secret tip: Sheldon Community Center. The centre is the heart of local events, from bingo to small art exhibitions. I once experienced a Poetry-Sl Slam where a 78-year-old jumped over his youth in the 60s – that was really a highlight you don't find in every guide.
If you now think that this is too little to describe Sheldon, let me tell you that the Sheldon Sights but they have their own distinctive charm. I have experienced more real encounters here than in some of a metropolis, and this is the real argument for me why you should spend your next time here.
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