Explore a destination located in Illinois, United States
Illinois is one of fifty states of the U.S., and the 6th most populous state in the country. Located in the central area of the state is Springfield, the capital of Illinois, although the largest city in the state is Chicago.[7] Illinois is notorious for its abundant agricultural production. The state leads the nation in food manufacturing, with $180 billion in processed food sales and more than 72,200 farms within the state. Farmlands cover approximately 75 percent of the state’s total land.[10] The majority of the state’s geographic form is flat with irregular plains and a gradual rise into hills in the far-northwest. The lowest point of the state is located at the confluence of Ohio and the Mississippi River, at an elevation of 279 feet. The Mississippi River is the longest river in Illinois, and it runs along the entire western border of the state.[5] Furthermore, One of Illinois’s most notable historical figures, Abraham Lincoln, has left a legacy on the state where he spent most of his life. Springfield contains many Abe Lincoln tourist sites such as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site where visitors can go to learn more about the impact of Lincoln and the series of events that led him to become the 16th president of the United States.[2]
In 2015 Illinois’s population was over 290,000 more than 2021’s estimated population size, which was about 12,569,321. It’s one of seven states that has had a negative growth rate since 2016.[7] Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the third-largest in the country. It is well known for being home to the Chicago Cubs, a professional baseball team with the reputation of being the 2016 World Series champions.[6] The Chicago White Sox are another Chicago professional baseball team. In 1906, The Cubs won 116 games, posting a modern-era record, before losing the World Series to the Chicago White Sox shortly after. The Cubs have appeared in the postseason 11 times through the 2020 season, since the beginning of divisional play in 1969.[8]
Illinois is known for having an immense amount of agricultural production, with over 75 percent of the state’s land preserved for cultivation and farming. A few of the main agricultural products in the state include corn, pork, cattle, soybeans, and wheat.[10]
Millennium Park in the heart of Chicago includes several attractions for visitors. The Cloud Gate, also referred to as "the bean", is centrally located in Millennium Park, and typically draws in guests who are fond of modern art. The reflective bean-shaped sculpture was created by Anish Kapoor, an Indian-born British artist. The sky reflecting off the bean is what inspired the artist to name it "The Cloud Gate". When it was unveiled in 2004, it became one of Chicago's most iconic features. Additionally, the sculpture itself is known to be one of the world's largest permanent outdoor art installations. The design of the sculpture's shape curves upward on the underside, in comparison to a bean shape, hence the nickname. The curve creates an entrance that visitors can pass through, and often take pictures under.[12]
Another notable attraction located in Millennium Park is the Crown Fountain. The fountain, created by Jaume Plesna, is an interactive video sculpture that uses light-emitting diodes to display digital videos of Chicago locals' faces. The sculpture is active from May through October. Across the street from Millennium Park is Maggie Daley Park, an activity area designed for children. The park includes suspension bridges, tube slides, a climbing wall, a mini-golf course, and a ship for exploring.[13] Additionally, Chicago features an indoor skydiving location known as, iFly. A vertical wind tunnel propels the flyer upward and keeps them afloat, giving a similar experience to actual skydiving. Birthday parties and celebratory events can be and are often held at iFly and the staff is there to assist visitors.[14]
Shawnee National Forest, located in Herod, contains many hiking trails for visitors who hope to spend more time outdoors. The most popular trail is the Garden of the Gods, featuring various rock formations and a view of the forest that can be seen on the observation trail. Horseback riding and backpacking are also available for visitors of the park. Furthermore, Cave-in-Rock State Park rests along the shore of the Ohio River on the southeastern border of Illinois, where visitors can walk the gravel trail and see the view of the river. Hiking trails dot the area, and the park allows boating and camping.[15]
Illinois contains a wide variety of religions, with the Roman Catholics constituting the single largest religious denomination in the state currently. Illinois played an important role for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the early 1800s. Joseph Smith, the religious leader of the church at the time, voluntarily went to Carthage Jail to answer charges of civil disturbance. After being held in the prison for three days, he and his brother, Hyrum Smith, were shot and killed. Carthage Jail, located in Nauvoo, is currently open for visitors to tour the area and learn more about Joseph Smith’s story and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.[9] Another significant location in Illinois related to Joseph Smith is The Joseph Smith Historic Site, which contains information about the historical significance of Nauvoo and includes artifacts such as original paintings of Nauvoo by David Hyrum Smith—Joseph Smith’s son.[4]
Illinois is located in the central northeastern region of the United States. The bordering states around Illinois include Wisconsin to the north, Indiana to the east, Kentucky to the southeast, Missouri to the west, and Iowa to the northwest. One of the state’s most notable natural features is the Mississippi River, which runs along the entire western border of Illinois by Iowa and Missouri. Towards the northwestern border, the land gradually rises into hills. The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound, with an elevation of 1,235 feet.[5]
Illinois’s vegetational regions are divided into the tallgrass prairie of northern and central Illinois and the oak-hickory forests in the western and southern regions. Before European settlers arrived on the land in the 17th century, oak-hickory forests also inhabited the northern regions of the state. The settlers stripped most of the trees for fuel and construction material which resulted in only 10 percent of forest cover in the state. Shawnee National Forest includes approximately 1,100 square miles of forests, a small portion of 6,200 square miles of forests that still remain within Illinois.[1]
Illinois’s climate often has temperature variations, with the occurrence of all four seasons. Extreme cold temperatures in the winter season tend to be near 22 degrees Fahrenheit in the north and 37 degrees in the south, whereas summer temperatures are near 74 to 80 degrees throughout the state. The southern region typically experiences more rainfall than the northern with an average precipitation of 46 inches annually—34 inches in the north.[11]
In 1673, the first European settlers to enter the Illinois area were French explorers, Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette. They were known to have explored the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. France ceded to Britain its claim to the lands east of the Mississippi shortly after the French and Indian War in the 1760s. Economic development began to decline, and by 1773 the number of settlers in the Illinois region had decreased to nearly 1,000. During the occurrence of the American Revolution, Illinois became a county of Virginia after American forces captured Kaskaskia—the British seat of government that had been residing within the region. Eventually, the Northwest Territory was divided, though Illinois did not attain statehood until 1818, after nine years of being part of the Indiana Territory.[1]
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president, became a significant figure of Illinois as he influenced the state and country throughout his life. Lincoln moved to Springfield in 1834, and there his legal career began as he rose as a politician. Currently, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is open for visitors to tour. Peoria, established in 1691, is known to be the oldest European settlement in Illinois. It was there that Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “Peoria Speech,” where he argued against slavery. This speech resulted in becoming one of the key events that began Lincoln’s course towards presidency and the abolition of slavery. Visitors to the state have the opportunity to go to the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and see the grave where he was laid to rest after he was assassinated in 1865.[2]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has contributed to a considerable portion of Illinois history with the construction of two Christian temples within the state. In the early 1840s, Nauvoo, Illinois, became a gathering place for followers of that faith. Joseph Smith, the religious founder, and prophet of the Latter-Day Saint church directed the saints to Illinois where they thrived and increased in members. On June 27, 1844, he was murdered in Carthage, Illinois, before the completion of the Nauvoo temple, which was being funded by tithes from the members of the Christian church.[3]
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