Page 399 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

ILLINOIS  397

Springfield is also southwest of Springfield) are
rich in Route 66 lore the remains of the largest
(see pp50–51). The old prehistoric Native American city
road follows a clearly north of Mexico. The Cahokia
marked path through Mounds State Historic and
the city, leading to World Heritage Site contains
the southside Cozy more than 100 earthen mounds
Dog Drive-in, a dating from 1050 to 1250,
legendary Route 66 when 15,000 people of the
eatery, which claims Mississippian culture are
Cozy Dog Drive-in, a popular Route 66 café to have invented the estimated to have occupied
corn dog. The café’s the city. The flat-topped Monks
4 Springfield Route 66 Museum and its Mound covers 14 acres (6 ha)
trademark “cozy dogs,” still and rises, in four terraces, to
* 111,000. ~ £ @ n 109 N 7th
St, (800) 545-7300. ∑ visit– available at rock-bottom prices, a height of 100 ft (30 m),
springfieldillinois.com make it a popular tourist providing sweeping views of
destination (closed on Sunday the nearby river valleys and
The state capital since 1837, and some holidays). the Gateway Arch (see p450),
Springfield gained fame as the about 12 miles (19 km) away
adopted hometown of 16th P Lincoln Home National in downtown St. Louis. The
US president, Abraham Lincoln, Historic Site site’s interpretive center
who lived here for 24 years before 413 S 8th St. Tel (217) 391-3226. recounts the fascinating story
assuming the presidency in Open 8:30am–5pm daily. of these mounds, which were
1861. The Abraham Lincoln Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. mysteriously abandoned by
Presidential Library and 7 ∑ nps.gov/liho around 1500.
Museum is full of artifacts, P Old State Capitol Further evidence of Native
interactive displays, and special- 5th & Adams Sts, Springfield. Tel (217) American habitation is
effect theaters. The four-block 785-9363. Open May–Sep: 9am–5pm abundant in the rugged,
Lincoln Home National daily; Sep–Apr: 9am–5pm Tue–Sat. unglaciated “Illinois Ozarks,” or
Historic Site is a pedestrian- Closed public hols. 7 “Little Egypt” region, where the
only historic district, with ∑ oldstatecapitol.org Ohio River separates the state
restored 19th- century homes, from Kentucky. The forested
gaslights, and wooden side- 5 Southern Illinois ridges and hollows of the
walks surrounding the neat sprawling Shawnee National
frame house where Lincoln and @ n (800) 248-4373. Forest can be viewed most
his wife, Mary, lived for 16 years. ∑ southernmostillinois.com dramatically at the Garden
An on-site visitor center of the Gods, an area of rocky
provides details about the In Southern Illinois, flat farm-lands sandstone outcroppings, and
city’s other Lincoln-related give way to rolling hills and Shawnee Hills, home to a
attractions, including his law forests along the Mississippi and winery trail.
office, tomb, and the 1853 Ohio Rivers. This terrain provided
Old State Capitol. It was here strategic vantage points from T Cahokia Mounds State
that he delivered his famous which Native Americans and, Historic Site
1858 “House Divided” speech, later, French traders and mission- 30 Ramey St, Collinsville.
outlining the sectional aries could monitor river traffic. Tel (618) 346-5160. Open 8am–sunset
differences that would soon Near the confluence of the daily. Visitor Center: Open 9am–5pm
plunge the nation into the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Wed–Sun. Closed public hols. 7
Civil War. Lincoln’s political Rivers (90 miles/145 km ∑ cahokiamounds.org
career began in 1834, when
he was elected to the Illinois
General Assembly.
The town’s other attraction
is the elegant Dana-Thomas
House, a 1904 Prairie-style
home designed by Frank
Lloyd Wright (see p394–5).
It contains much of Wright’s
original white oak furniture,
light fixtures, art-glass doors,
windows, and light panels.
Many Wright experts consider
this to be the best-preserved
of the houses designed by the
A scenic view of Galena with its historic landmarks famous architect. Grass-covered mounds in the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

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