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Things to do within 100 miles of the fairgrounds


ALTON - 93 Miles

Mississippi Riverfront
219 PIASA STREET
The Argosy Casino offers year-round unlimited stakes gambling.

Crossing The Mississippi River
Named after explorer William Clark, this cablestay
bridge links Missouri and Illinois over the
Mississippi River.

#1 Lock & Dam Way
Packed with more than 20 highly interactive exhibits, this museum tells the story of the Mississippi River and the impact it has had on the region throughout history. Tour the locks and dam while you’re here

Underground Railroad Tours
Various Locations
Come see the actual buildings that served as Underground Railroad stations for many slaves seeking freedom.
ARCOLA - 58 Miles

135 North Oak Street
The historic depot provides information about this small town community, including the Raggedy  Ann and Andy Museum, and the largest collection of antique brooms and brushes in the United States. Pick up maps and information on the Amish sites to help you explore this area

111 South Locust Street
This is the first museum in Illinois dedicated to Amish culture, with permanent and rotating exhibits. Step back in time to when meals were made from scratch and buggies ruled the road.  The center hosts a variety of tours, such as Meals in Amish Homes, Amish Home and Farm tours and Step-On guided tours of the Amish countryside. Shop in Arcola and nearby Arthur at Amish-owned and operated shops and find Amish-made goods.

110 East Main Street
Discover art, memorabilia and archival material in this 4,000-square-foot museum devoted to the creations of Arcola native Johnny Gruelle. Visit the gift shop for unique Raggedy items.
CAHOKIA - 91 Miles

Historic Site
First And Elm Streets
Built around 1730, this regional courthouse was dismantled in 1901, displayed at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, and then reconstructed on its original site in 1939. Nearby are Holy Family Church and the 1810 Jarrot Mansion.

East First And Church Streets
Be sure to visit this “upright” log church, a National Historic Landmark built in 1799 and the oldest church structure west of the Allegheny Mountains. The parish, established in 1699, is one of the oldest continuously operating parishes in the United States.
CASEYVILLE - 83 Miles

50 Tucker Drive
Play at this 5,000-square-foot, multilevel laser tag arena. There’s also a 2,500-square-foot video arcade with food and private party rooms. This is family fun for all ages.
COLLINSVILLE - 78 Miles

800 South Morrison Avenue
Come see the “World’s Largest Catsup Bottle.” Constructed in 1949 and restored in 1995, the now-empty steel water tank and tower measure 170 feet tall. Be sure not to miss this roadside attraction listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Collinsville Road And Ramey Street
On this site are the remains of an ancient city where a Mississippian culture flourished from 700 to 1400 A.D., and then vanished. Now listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on its World Heritage List, it is the only prehistoric Native American city discovered north of Mexico. A new 33,000-square-foot interpretive center is located near the 100-foot-tall Monks Mound, which is the largest prehistoric earthen mound in the New World.

9301 Collinsville Road
Located on the National Road, this 1-mile track is open year-round for thoroughbred racing. It offers betting and simulcast wagering on major-stake races across the country.
CHAMPAIGN - 92 Miles

Krannert Art Museum & Kinkead Pavilion
500 East Peabody Drive
Krannert Art Museum, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is the second-largest public art museum in the state. The museum houses a collection of more than 8,000 works of art, representing cultures around the world. Special programming includes lectures, symposiums, concerts and dance performances. The Palette Café and bookstore offers art books, exhibition catalogues, artist-designed jewelry, and an assortment of coffees, pastries and sandwiches in a pleasant, casual environment.

346 North Neil Street
The 1914 Orpheum Theatre, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is home to a hands-on museum where kids can touch and explore the wonders of science in an informal setting. Exhibits include live animals; a giant lever; several water exhibits including a 10-foot water flume and water tornado; block and tackle pulleys; electricity exhibits; whisper dishes; and an outdoor dinosaur dig. Adult visitors will enjoy the many historical exhibits about the early days of the Orpheum Circuit and vaudeville stars.

Parkland College
2400 West Bradley Avenue
The second-largest planetarium in Illinois is part of Parkland College's Cultural Center. The planetarium uses a Zeiss Star Projector to project 7,600 visible stars on the 50-foot dome. State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and special effects help visitors learn about the stars and planets. In addition to regular features, the planetarium also offers children's shows, rock-n-roll light shows and special seasonal presentations.
CHARLESTON - 51 Miles

18175 State Park Road
This park is known for its steep, wooded ridges and broad, lush valleys, along with miles of rugged scenic hiking trails and camping facilities.  Primitive cabins are available and all sites have electricity.

Lake Charleston
Illinois Route 130
1 Mile South Of Charleston
Enjoy the sparkling beauty of Lake Charleston. Bike and hike at Lakeview Park.

126 E Street
Learn more about the 1858 political debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. Designated a "Looking for Lincoln" site, this museum focuses on the Charleston Debate, and also provides information on all seven debates. A children's hands-on exhibit, an auditorium, various exhibit displays and gift shops are also on site.

Sixth Street And Jackson Avenue
Charleston's reputation as a city of murals is growing as visitors learn of the ongoing project. Take about 45 minutes to explore the nine blocks filled with murals that make up the city's "outdoor art gallery" and highlight Charleston's rich, historic past.

Lincoln Highway Road, 1 Mile West Of Lincoln's Log Cabin State Historic Site
Shiloh is the final resting place for many Civil War veterans and Thomas and Sarah Lincoln, Abe's father and stepmother.
DECATUR - 86 Miles

1184 West Main Street
More than 1,000 pieces of porcelain, fine china and glassware—some from the 15th and 16th centuries—are displayed in this gallery on the campus of Millikin University.

Lincoln Square, Main Street
Local legend says that Lincoln gave his first speech here. Barefoot and dressed for working in the fields, he spoke of Illinois’ future.

Explore more than 10,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits focusing on people and cultures, the arts, physics, humanities, the ecosystem and health services. It’s entertaining for kids of all ages.

More than 400 wild and domestic animals from around the world inhabit this zoo. Take a ride on the ZO&O Express or catch a ride on the Endangered Species Carousel. Visitors can also feed pygmy goats in the petting area and visit reptiles, fish and amphibians in the Herpaquarium. Be sure to see the zoo’s newest additions—cheetahs and Seymour the camel.
EAST ST. LOUIS - 87 Miles

200 South Front Street
Aboard the Casino Queen, the excitement is nonstop. Enjoy a variety of gaming while viewing the St. Louis skyline. Relax with a great meal in the Queen’s Courtyard Buffet in the visitors pavilion. New to the casino is the Casino Queen RV Park and the Casino Queen Hotel.

Front Street And Trendley Avenue
As the country’s highest water fountain, the Gateway Geyser Fountain reaches 630 feet. The geyser’s nozzle is centered in a pond 600 feet in diameter covering 6.4 acres and holding millions of gallons of water.
GREENUP - 40 Miles

West Cumberland Road, West Of Downtown
This beautiful, self-supported covered bridge stretches over the Embarras River. It is the country’s longest clear-spanned covered bridge with no weight limit.
LERNA - 45 Miles

400 South Lincoln Highway Road
This is the 1840s farm and home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s parents. The complex is open year-round and includes the Stephen Sargent Farm, the Reuben Moore Home, a new visitors center and more. A living history program is featured, with costumed interpreters from May to October.
LITCHFIELD - 57 Miles

North Route 66
Continuously operating since 1950, this drive-in theater is located on historic Route 66.
MARSHALL - 68 Miles

16985 East 1350Th Road
Enjoy camping, fishing and hiking trails and power boating, as well as an on-site restaurant.

Holiday Park, Route 1 And U.S. Highway 40
A family from Marshall donated this 1840 log cabin to the city. The center provides information about Marshall and Clark County.

West Of Marshall And East Of Marshall
Marshall has two Stone Arch Bridges, both constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers from 1827 to 1837. The stones were cut to fit without mortar. The bridge west of Marshall has been in use since it was built and serves as a monument to stone bridge builders. The bridge east of Marshall is on an abandoned section of the National Road.
OBLONG - 51 Miles

State Route 33
Located on the west edge of Oblong, the Oblong Oil Field Museum is one of only seven oil field museums in the country. The museum highlights an industry that revolutionized this country. Tours available by appointment.
STRASBURG - 31 Miles

Rural Route 1
Enjoy camping, fishing, hiking trails and hunting.
SULLIVAN - 49 Miles

16 East Harrison Street
Enjoy live professional musical theater at its best. Open June through August, and for spring, fall and Christmas shows.
TEUTOPOLIS - 17 Miles

110 South Garrott Street
This Franciscan monastery was built between 1858 and 1904. The museum exhibits artifacts of early pioneer farm families and the Franciscans who came to minister them. Hundreds of items of clothing, furniture, toys, books, bibles, utensils of daily living and official documents are on display. Open the first
Sunday of the month April through November and by appointment.
VANDALIA - 22 Miles

Historic Site
315 West Gallatin Street
See the first Illinois statehouse that was built for that purpose—and the oldest statehouse still standing in Illinois. As the state’s first capital, Vandalia was the seat of government from 1819 to 1839, and later the site of many debates on slavery. This gracious federal-style building, built in 1836, contains many original furnishings as well as period pieces.
St. Louis – 90 Miles

St. Louis really is the complete getaway. There’s something for everyone in this bustling metropolis on the Mississippi River. Planning a couple’s getaway? St. Louis offers music, theatre, shopping, dining and everything you need for a romantic reconnection. Bringing the kids? There are more child-pleasing attractions here than you’ll have time to see on just one visit.



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