Honestly, if you are looking for “Rankin Sights”, you must first understand that this small corner of Illinois has more history than you suspect at first glance. Founded in 1869 as a railroad hub for the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railway, Rankin quickly developed into a hub for cereals and cattle – a real agricultural boom that shaped the whole Butler Township. Today you can still feel the heritage in the old brick houses, which like forgotten witnesses lean on the edge of the main road, and in the crossroads that have hardly changed for over a century.
I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between the endless corn fields, you'll find a rest you never get in Chicago – and that's not a joke. When you arrive from Champaign by car, simply follow the US-150 to the Rankin branch; a short stop at the only diner in the city (the coffee is really great) enough to sniff the flair. And yes, the County Museum in Danville is just a stone's throw away if you need some culture.
What I particularly like is the way the township community centre still serves as a meeting point – here the old people meet for card games while the boys test their skateboards. This is the true heart of Rankin, and this is what makes the “Rankin Sights” for me an underestimated jewel in the Middle West.
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The first stop I recommend for every visitor of Rankin is that Vermilion County Museum in the heart of Danville – a place where the history of the region becomes almost tangible without having to roll a history book. I once saw an old Tractor-Exponat-Kutsche, which had more rust than metal, and had to laugh because the museum presented the whole with an eye-catcher. Parking is usually easy at the museum's forecourt, except on Saturday afternoons when the school classes fill the halls.
A short detour to Constitution lets you fully enjoy the rural idyll of Butler Township. The trail stretches over 45 miles through fields, small villages and along the Vermilion River. I spent a few hours there with my old mountain bike, and the best: most of the sections are free to travel and you can take a break at any time at one of the many picnic places. If you prefer walking, you will find several information signs along the way, which are surprisingly well researched.
If you are looking for a touch of nature, Busey Woods an underestimated jewel. The forest is just a few minutes south of Rankin and offers well-marked hiking trails that lead to dense beech and oak stocks. I remember a spontaneous bird-watching event where an enthusiastic ornithologist suddenly imitated a redhead call – the audience (consisting of me and two joggers) applauded as if it were a concert. Access is free, and parking is always available at the small visitor center as long as you don't come to the high season on weekends.
A little further, about 30 miles southeast, this is Vermilion River State Park. Here you will meet the river of the same name, which swells gently through the area and invites you to a canoeing. I once rented a kayak and enjoyed the calm water surface, while a few anglers threw their worms on the shore – an image that was almost too cheesy for my ironic vein, but still relaxing. The park has several free parking spaces, but the main access places are quickly occupied on the weekend.
For art lovers Danville Museum of Fine Arts a must, although it is not just close to Rankin – a short 15-minute driveway and you are in the historic building that once housed the city library. The changing exhibitions show both local talents and national artists, and I must admit that I have discovered a painting that reminded me more of a modern graffiti than classical art. The entrance is free, and parking is almost always available in the rear side street.
Another highlight I can hardly overlook is the Danville Riverwalk. This walk along the Vermilion River connects the city centre with the nature reserve and offers numerous benches where you can easily observe the passing boats. I once experienced a street musician’s duet from Banjo and Mundharmonika, which instantly brightened the mood – no joke, that was almost too good to be true. The Riverwalk is barrier-free, and parking is usually sufficient at the end of the path as long as you are not there at noon on a hot summer day.
Whether you’re looking for a history fan, nature lover, art enthusiast or just a bit of a change from everyday life – the surroundings of Rankin offers a colorful mix of museums, trails and parks that can surprise every visitor. These Rankin Attractions show that the small village has more to offer than one would suspect at first sight.
I have to admit that my favorite place in this tiny little spot Earth, which the locals simply call “rankin”, is not some hipster café, but the ones Rankin Community Park. There is a playground that has more rusty chains than colorful swings, but that's exactly what makes the charm – you feel like a child who secretly skips homework. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't meet all the barbecue fans from the neighborhood on Saturday night; then the car park chaos becomes almost a local spectacle.
A short walk (or a short sprint if you don't want to bear the grill) leads you to Rankin Methodist Church. The building is a real relic from the 1900s, with a stone facade that could tell more stories than some guides. I visited a Sunday Mass there – no joke, the organ sounded as if it had called a ghost from the past – and then a few villagers caught drinking coffee, who told me that the “Hymnen singing” is almost a competition here. So if you want to sniff a little local flair, that's your spot.
Now comes what I personally call the “unforgettable photo motif”: Rankin Grain Elevator. This massive silo set projects like a silent guard over the fields and is the perfect background for your Instagram feed if you want to show that you are “authentic” on the move. I did a selfie there once, while a tractor pushed by – the result was an image that has more dust than glamour, but that's exactly what the goal is, right?
A little further, on the edge of the Kaskaskia River, lies the Kaskaskia River Trail. The path is not exactly a sophisticated hiking paradise, but it takes you through fields, over old bridges and occasionally offers a view of the “Rankin Sights” that you only know from the car. I once lost my running shoes there – they were “leaving” by a curious duck pair, which apparently thought I was a roommate. Practical note: the trail parking is a small, unconsolidated parking lot behind the old grain silo, so bring some patience.
If you're looking for something historical that doesn't just consist of concrete and metal, look at this Old Rankin Schoolhouse on. The building was built in 1912 and serves today as a municipal centre. I once participated in a “Story-Night” event where an older gentleman told how he ran to school as a child in the rain, because the bus never came. This was not only a bit of nostalgia, but also a proof that Rankin has a heart that beats loud despite its size.
A short detour to Rankin Cemetery may sound for some macabers, but for me it is a quiet place where you can almost feel the history of the families that shaped this spot earth. The tombstones are simple, some are rusted, but this gives the whole an honest, undisturbed character. I once discovered an old family coat of arms that reminded me of a conversation with a local historian, who said that every generation here maintains a little Illinois identity.
And because I don't just want to talk about the big things, I still have to Rankin Volunteer Fire Department mention. The red building with the big sign is not only a place where firefighters take their helmets, but also a social hub. I took part in a barbecue evening where the firefighters knew more about the right barbeque of rags than about the extinguishing of fires – a real proof that the common feeling is all about it.
Finally, a small secret tip that not everyone knows: Old Mill Antique – a tiny shop that houses more curiosities than one would expect in a whole museum. I found an old, handmade wooden toy there, supposedly from the 1920s. The owner, an elderly man with a mustache, told me he got the piece of his grandmother. No joke, the part has more history than some city tour.
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