Traversing both east and west sides of the Illinois River from Ottawa, 150 miles south to Havana, the Illinois River Road has spurs to the communities of Princeton and Canton. The Illinois River Road corridor has over 100 natural and historic sites and numerous unique communities located throughout its 10-county region.
The Scenic Byway is conveniently located between Chicago and St. Louis, but just far enough to get away from it all. So get off the beaten path and see what the Illinois River Road has in store for you!
Amur Tiger Cubs Born at Peoria Zoo
River Stories Cruise
Peoria Riverfront Museum Now Open |
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Outside of the Florida Everglades, the nearly 7,000-acre TNC Emiquon Preserve represents one of the largest riparian floodplain restoration projects in the country. Before it was drained and put into agricultural production in 1921, the Emiquon area's Thompson Lake was the largest bottomland lake in the entire Illinois River Valley. Now, after more than 80 years of cultivation, Thompson Lake, its nearby sibling Flag Lake, and their associated prairies and hardwood forests are being restored. Documented descriptions of the Thompson/Flag Lake area stretch as far back as 1687 when elements of LaSalle's expedition visited the site. Dr. Charles Kofoid not only described the area but studied it in great detail during the late 1800s, before it was converted to agricultural use. Now, scientists have detailed pre-conversion information from which to draw upon as they set about restoring the site to its original ecology. 
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613 W. Marquette Street ~ Ottawa, IL 61350 ~ (815) 433-5830 info@illinoisriverroad.org ~ Facebook ~ YouTube © Copyright 2007-2013 Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway. All Rights Reserved. Developed by J Rudny, LLC. |
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