Visit Ashkum Iroquois Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the charming village of Ashkum in the U.S. state of Illinois! The small village offers a historical railway museum and a beautiful nature around the mouth of the Kankakee River. Stay at the "Big Mud Lake" or the "Kankakee State Fish & Wildlife Area".
If you're looking for Ashkum sights, you're already in the wrong movie, but let me tell you why the town is still a little jewel. I grew up in Ashkum, shortly after the railway in 1855 slit the prairie and the township of the same name was officially drawn – a piece of history that is not found in every guide, because it is simply too inconspicuous to impress the masses. The name comes from a local Indian chief, and you can still feel it today when you walk along the old barns that have more dust than shine, but for that there is a lot of character.
I usually drive over US‐24, which leads directly through the heart of Ashkum; a short detour from the I‐57 takes you to the next larger city if you need a little more action. What I particularly like about this place is the way people are starting to live here slowly – no joke, it's almost a cult. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the endless corn fields, but the rest you feel at sunset over the fields is really great.
A walk through the historic centre, where the old town hall is still standing, feels like a step back to the 1800s, only that the cafés today have Wi-Fi. So next time you drive over Iroquois County, take a look at Ashkum – maybe you will discover your own unexpected favorite place between grain and history.
So, next time you walk over Highway 52 and suddenly see the picture of a red brick roof church in the fog, you're in Ashkum – and that's my personal favorite spot that St. Mary’s Catholic Church. I have to admit, I was never a big church fan, but here the old-honored man has something that forces me to keep me in every time. The benches still sound, the organ game sounds like someone hasn't touched the buttons since the 60s, and the small cemetery hall behind it is a silent witness of the city's history. Parking is almost always a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night after the weekly community meeting – then the small car park becomes a battlefield quickly.
Right next to the church Ashkum Public Library, a place I like to sign as the “heart of the city” because here the few inhabitants actually read a bit. I once found an old yearbook that documents the foundation of the city in 1869 – a real find for history lovers. The shelves are not huge, but the staff knows every regular guest on the name and gives you a look at the local newspapers from the 1920s. So if you're looking for a quiet place to roll a book or just enjoy the quiet sum of the air conditioning, you're right here.
A short walk further leads you to Ashkum Community Center. I have experienced the annual “Ashkum Days” festival more than a couple of times, and every time I wonder why the city could not just hold a bigger festival – but that is probably the certain something that makes up the charm. The hall is equipped with worn-out wooden chairs, which give a light bark of itself at each event, and the kitchen serves the best homemade apple cake I have ever tasted (no joke, that is better than many urban bakeries). If you want to sniff a bit of culture, there are regular art exhibitions of local hobby artists – a real treat for the senses.
Of course you can Ashkum Park do not forget that I love because it is the only green piece that is not surrounded by corn fields. The playground is small but functional, and the baseball field is used almost every week by the local guys who complain loudly about any missed pitch. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, and we made fun of the “Great Town” parking situation on the highway – there is enough space to park the car and still have a footpath to the barbecue area.
Another landmark you should not overlook is the Ashkum Grain Elevator. This massive silo cabinet projects like a silent guard over the city and is the perfect photo motif for Instagram if you are looking for the “rustic” look. I watched a sunset there once, while a tractor slowly passed – that was almost too beautiful to be true. The access to the interior is naturally blocked (who wants to be stuck in a grain warehouse?), but the exterior is a great example of the agricultural history that is deeply rooted here.
A short detour to Ashkum Fire Department also surprised me. The old fire brigade from the 1930s is still in operation, and the volunteers there have a heart of gold – they never let you down, whether you have a burning campfire or just a bit of company looking for barbecue. The building itself is a piece of history that you rarely find in modern cities, and the red sign in front of the door is a real eye-catcher.
If you are interested in the school past of the city, take a look at the Ashkum School- Building that today serves as a community centre. I remember my school time when the classrooms were still equipped with chalkboards and not with interactive whiteboards. The old halls still smell like chalk and wood, and this is for me a nostalgic scent that you don't just forget.
Last but not least, a short notice Ashkum AttractionsThey all lie close to each other so that you can walk from one to the other without having to move. This is practical because parking in the main road is usually easy as long as you do not come to the main event of the month – then the whole thing becomes a bit more chaotic, but that is part of the charm of a small town.
The old Watseka railway station, barely more than a rusty wooden frame, is for me the perfect example of how history is sometimes easy to move. I spent a few hours there because I thought there was a café – no, just a orphaned shed and a shield that still announces “Freight Office”. Nevertheless, the creeping wood has something calming, and if you are lucky, you will meet the one or other hobby historian who has a dusty photo album about the railways of the early 20th. A century chat. Parking is a children's game here as long as you don't come on Friday night, then the small field fills up quickly with tractors and picnic baskets.
A short trip to Watseka leads directly to the Iroquois County Historical Museum – a place I like to name as “the treasury of the middle vest middle”. The exhibitions are not exactly spectacular, but the old school bus museum has really made me sneak because I remembered how I was stuck in a similar bus as a child while the driver tried to start the engine. The museum is centrally located, so there is always enough space to park, and the staff is so friendly that they almost give you the feeling that you are part of the family – until you ask if there is Wi-Fi, then the smile is forced.
Just a few miles further, on the edge of the city, the imposing Iroquois County Courthouse rises. This 1905 building is a prime example of classical architecture, which can be seen only in movies from the 1930s. I once observed a trial – not because I am a legal enthusiast, but because I thought that could be a good photo motif for Instagram. The high columns and the massive movement inside have almost left me forget that I was there because of the free guided tour. Parking is a bit tricky because the courthouse is surrounded by a small parking garage, which is quickly full on hot summer days.
If you have enough of concrete and history, the path continues to the Kankakee River State Park, about 30 miles north of Ashkum. The river is wide, the water clear, and the hiking trails are so well maintained that you almost feel they are created by an overmotivated landscape gardener. I remember a rainy afternoon when I rented a kayak with a friend – the thing was so easy that we were almost flushed away from the stream until we stuck in a small river section and the sun broke through the clouds. Parking at the main entrance is generous, but on the weekend it can come to a small mess because families with picnic blankets and barbecue equipment occupy the seats.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the annual Iroquois County Fairgrounds event that takes place in August. The Fairgrounds themselves are a huge field full of stands, carousels and an old barn that serves every year as a stage for local bands. For the first time in 2019, I experienced a concert of an emerging country band – the mood was so abandoned that I almost forgot that I was here because of the famous corn-piston chips. The approach is uncomplicated because the fairgrounds are located directly on the US‐24, and parking is almost always sufficient as long as you do not try to find a car on the last day when all visitors leave at the same time.
A little away from the well-known paths is the Watseka City Park, a small but fine place that scores with a historical bandage from the 1920s. I did a picnic there on a sunny Sunday afternoon, while a local bubble band played a little jazz – a picture that would hardly be found in a guide. The park is easily accessible, parking is directly at the entrance, and the only problem is that the benches are sometimes occupied by scattering dogs that have more interest in the picnic baskets than in the visitors.
Whether you're a fan of rusty railway stations, dusty museums, imposing court buildings, wild rivers, fair year markets or quiet city parks – the surroundings of Ashkum offer a colourful mix that makes every traveler a little sneak. And if you are looking for a reason why you should come here at all, then just think of the many Ashkum Attractionswaiting to be discovered.
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