Honestly, if you think “Crescent City Sights” is just another cliché from the Middle West, then you haven’t experienced the true heart of Iroquois Township yet. Founded in 1869, the town grew thanks to the railroad that once pumped the blood of the region – a bit like an old diesel that is still drinking, although it has long been overtaken. I like to go with Highway 24, because parking in the main street is almost a ritual: a short stop, a look at the old town hall, which could eject more history than a history book.
People here like to talk about the field fruits, but I don't understand the hype about the annual Thanksgiving Festival – until I tried the crispy corncaps, then it was clear: this is the real highlight. And while you ask where you get your breakfast, you stumble over the little diner at the corner that has served the same cup of coffee since the 70s, just with a little more foam.
A short detour to Iroquois County Courthouse is almost obligatory because the building is so majestic that you almost forget that it is just an administrative building. And if you still have a little time, take a look at the old railway museum – no joke, this is a treasure for anyone who loves the sound of squeaking wheels. So, that was my quick tour, and yes, that was just the beginning.
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Iroquois County Historical Museum in Watseka – a small but surprisingly well-stocked museum that reveals more about the agricultural history of the region than one would expect from a place that is barely larger than an average supermarket. I remember seeing a rainy afternoon between dusty tractor models and old school boards that the exhibition about the pioneering families is almost romantic, although the reality at that time smelled more like sweat and hard floors. Parking is here almost always a children's play as long as you don't come on Saturday night when the museum accidentally has a special exhibition and the street is blocked by curious school classes.
A short trip to Watseka inevitably leads to the imposing Iroquois County Courthouse, a building that reminds more of a 19-century castle than a courthouse in the Middle West. I once observed a trial – not because I had legal curiosity, but because I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to test the acoustic hallability of the hall for a spontaneous vocal duel. The result? My voice echoed so long that I almost thought the building would keep me forever. Entry is free, and parking is best to be solved on the small side street behind the town hall, where you rarely find a free space when the local shaft tournament runs.
If you have enough of dusty halls, you should drive the Iroquois County Speedway – a drag trip that offers more engine noise than culture, but that's what makes the appeal. I was there on a hot summer evening when a local driver with a modified Chevy completed the 1⁄4-Meilen route in less than 6 seconds; that was faster than my last sprint to the gas station. The strip is well signposted, and parking is practically right next to the starting line, which means that you can almost smell the adrenaline from the car while standing in the dam.
A little further east, almost on the edge of the well-known Iroquois County, lies the Kankakee River State Park – a place that I personally recommend only if you want to admire nature not only from a distance but actively experience it. The river swells through dense forests, and the trails are so well maintained that you almost feel that they would be painted by an enthusiastic parker personally. I once organized a picnic with friends that was almost completely taken over by a horde duck; that was a real highlight because I suddenly realized that I knew more about duck behavior than about the history of Crescent City.
Only a few miles south of the park is Momence, where the Momence Canal and the associated Riverwalk offer a quiet counterpart to the loud Speedway. I spent an afternoon there by simply strolling along the water and trying to count the many historic ships that once drove the canal. Most visitors think this is just a walk, but the information boards tell about the industrial flowering period that made this region almost the heart of the transport network of the Middle West. A small car park directly at the beginning of the walk is usually free as long as you do not come to lunchtime when the local anglers throw out their rods.
A short detour to the north leads to Onarga, a tiny little town that remembers more of a painting than a lively place. The old grain silos, which are like huge concrete monoliths in the sky, are a popular photo for Instagram users looking for something authentic. I once met an old farmer who told me that the city was an important hub for the export of cereals – a fact that you hardly find in the guides because it is too local. Parking here is a children's play because the road is hardly driven, unless a tractor is passing.
Last but not least, Iroquois County Fairgrounds, which turns the whole county into a colorful feast every year in August. I visited the County Fair for the first time there in 2015 and was surprised how much more it was than just a rumble – from local artisans to an impressive cattle show that even impressed the most sceptical visitor. The parking lot is huge, but on the main days you can easily land in the back areas where you can smell the scent of burnt almonds and freshly grilled maize almost from the distance.
So, the next time you think about what you can do in the vicinity of Crescent City, Iroquois Township, remember that the region has more to offer than just corn fields – from museums to historic court buildings to rasty drag routes and quiet river paths. This mix of culture, history and pure adrenaline makes the area an underestimated jewel in the heart of Illinois. And that's exactly what they are Crescent City Attractionsthat I would put to every traveler's heart.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Crescent City is old railway depot is – what the locals lovingly call Crescent City Historical Museum. The building still cnares as if it had drunk a bit too much whiskey, and the exhibits are so colorful that you almost forget that you are not in a hip art district of Chicago. I once tried an old telegrapher there – the glazing sound was almost as satisfying as clicking an old camera, and I swear the curator threw me an eye-catcher when I asked if I could send a telegram to New York. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local antiquities flee market chaaos breaks off.
A short walk down the main road leads you to St. Mary's Catholic Church. I don't understand the hype about Gothic churches, but here the old brick building has something almost romantic that reminds me of my childhood every time I was here with my family on Sundays. The stained glass windows cast a warm light that lights up even the most cloudy days a bit. I heard a church choir sample there – the voices were so deep that I almost thought the building would collapse because the acoustics would spin the echo too strongly.
If you are looking for a place where you can recover from the noise of the city (or better said, from the total lack of noise), then the Crescent City Public Library That's right. I found my favorite books from childhood there more than once, and the staff is so friendly that they even told me a few local stories from the 1920s, while I was sitting in the corner on the unrestrained armchair. Wi-Fi is not the fastest, but it doesn't bother if you just leave a bit alone. And yes, parking right in front of the building is a Klacks – a few empty places are always ready as long as you are not there at noon with the whole village.
A short detour to the south brings you to Crescent City Park. Here there is a baseball diamond, a small playground building and a few benches that seem to tell more stories than most museums. I once made a picnic with friends, and we made fun of the “great” idea that the field is sometimes occupied in summer by geese who seem to think they are the real owners. The park is free, and parking is virtually right at the entrance – a short walk is enough to enter the grass that somehow always looks a bit greener than what you expect in the suburbs of Chicago.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Crescent City Community Center. The building is a true chameleon: during the day a place for yoga classes, in the evening a meeting place for bingo night and occasionally an improvised concert for local bands that have more enthusiasm than talent. I once participated in a “Koch-und-Kunst-Workshop” where we conjured a dish from local ingredients that was barely edible, but offered a great discussion topic for the next few weeks. The center has a small parking lot that is usually empty as long as you are not there on the first Friday of the month when the entire village comes together.
A little away from the usual tourist paths lies the old fire brigade, which today serves as a small museum for the history of local fire control. I saw an old hose press there that looked like she could wipe a whole neighborhood, and some old helmets that had more rust than metal. The place is not just a magnet for visitors, but it just makes him charming – here you can still think about how much easier life was when you came out of the well with a bucket of water. Parking is a children's game because the property is practically only used by firefighters themselves.
Last but not least, Crescent City Elementary School Buildings that today serves as a community centre for various events. The old classrooms were transformed into exhibition spaces, and I saw a local art exhibition where the works of primary school children hung alongside the paintings of the local seniors – a strange, but somehow refreshing contrast. The building has a small courtyard where you can sit down and enjoy the sun while you think about why you drove so far to admire some old school benches.
If you now think that all this is a bit too much nostalgia, then just look at the Crescent City Attractions on a map – you will notice that most of these places are only a few minutes walk away from each other. This means you can stroll from one place to another in half a day without running, and have enough time to drink a coffee in one of the few cafes in the city that surprisingly tastes good when you combine it with a piece of cake you get from a friendly local. And that is, to be honest, the most beautiful thing about Crescent City: the people who live here are ready to show you their little treasures, even if they don't always understand why you are so excited about it.
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