Sarah visits John A Logan Museum!

My name is Haley Bollman and today, September 26, 2011, I took Sarah to visit the John A. Logan museum! We traveled 8.52 miles to Murphysboro, Il at 37.762403, -89.341533 to learn interesting facts about the Civil War. The museum has a ton of photographs from John A. Logan's life, portraits, memorabilia, and weapons from the Civil War! John A.Logan was a general for the Union Army during the Civil War. There is also a trail that leads around the land of the museum with other interesting Civil War historical site such as the Samuel H. Dalton house who was a freed slave that served in the Union Army! We saw a lot of really cool stuff that helped us learn about the Civil War and John A. Logan!

Fort Massac State Park

FORT MASSAC STATE PARK
Hello. My name is Christina DeWitt. Today, September 24, 2011


Frank joined our family on a trip to Fort Massac State Park. Our family dog was jealous so we had to take him along as well. Frank and Rebel our dog became best buds. Frank traveled 129.14miles round trip. The coordinates for the trip are Latitude: 37.149371 and Longitude: -88.694344. Fort Massac has a replica of an 1802 American fort site. This site is where the original French and American forts were built. The park has statue of George Rogers Clark. Fort Massac was dedicated, the first state park in Illinois in 1908.
There are places to picnic, look at the river, look at the fort, and there is lots of brochures. They have an encampment 2 days October where they recreate the atmosphere of the late 1700’s. We visited the visitors center at the state park, where we saw artifacts and many replicas of the time. It is a very interesting and educational place to visit. Frank had a lot of fun we pretended to go on a boat trip in the visitors center, looked at the fort, and stood by the statue of George Rogers Clark, and went down by the river and collected some rocks. The park has play areas for kids, camping, hiking, picnicking, hunting, boating and fishing. There is lots to do for everyone and history everywhere. Frank was a little unhappy that he had to be held, but the park has a leash law, and I did not have a leash for him. The park is located at 1308 E. 5th Street, Metropolis, Ill.

Sarah Goes to Cedarhurst!

Hi! My name is Elisha McDowell. Today, Sarah and I visited the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, IL. The latitude and longitude for this museum is 38 degrees N and -88 degrees W. Since Sarah lives in Carbondale, this was a fairly lengthy trip for her. The miles she traveled round trip were 118.24 mi. Sarah enjoyed this road trip as we traveled in my car and she was able to look out the window to see all the lovely sights along the way.

John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell were local philanthropists who created Cedarhurst for education and enjoyment. They collected several pieces of art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and upon their death, they left their estate to benefit the residents and visitors of Mt. Vernon. The Mitchell Museum opened on November 2, 1973 and it is one of the art display centers. In 1992, the Cedarhurst Sculpture Park was initiated and it displays sculpture in nature's outdoors. Additionally, the Beck Family Center Gallery contains hands-on activities for children to experience art and learning.

Cedarhurst Center for the Arts is full of interesting pieces of art and historical art displays. Currently, the Mitchell Museum is displaying the 24th Biennial Cedarhurst Center for the Arts Southern Illinois Artists Open Competition and Exhibition. The exhibition lasts until October 16 and features various pieces of contemporary art from local and other artists. Sarah enjoyed viewing the interesting artwork, including oil paintings on canvas, forged steel, and photography. After viewing the exhibition, Sarah and I traveled down the hall to view quilts from the Cedarhurst Quilt Exhibit. Then, we saw the permanent collection of John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell. Sarah and I enjoyed learning about some of these historic art works and artists.

Before we left, Sarah and I had our picture taken in front of a Cedarhurst sign located in the front lobby of the building. We also took some free brochures with us so that we could have a keepsake of our trip and continue to learn more. I enjoyed this trip and I think Sarah did, too!

Sarah visits the Saline Creek Pioneer Village and Museum

Sarah and I decided to visit the Saline Creek Pioneer Village and Museum on September 15th, 2011. I took Sarah and my children on car ride of 39.26 miles, to the location in Harrisburg, Illinois. The latitude and longitude coordinates are 37.718357, -88.552909. The Saline Creek Pioneer Village is a settlement from the era of 1800 to 1840. It contains log homes, blockhouses, barns, a Quaker church, a school, and jail. Saline County was organized in 1847 with Abraham Lincoln serving as the attorney. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and fresh air ! It was a wonderful learning experience for us all!

Sarah visits 138 year old church site!

On September 16th, my children and I took Sarah on a bike ride about 1/2 mile from our home. Sarah rode in the seat on the back of my bike. I think she enjoyed the fresh air! We chose to visit the original site of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. This log cabin church was built 138 years ago in 1873 by John and Howard Gentle. In 1992, the church was relocated to the Historical village in Mt. Vernon,IL. The original footprint of the church is still at the site and is clearly marked. Mt. Olive Church is still at the location, though they have built a new building .
While we were exploring we discovered the cemetery behind the church. We stumbled upon the grave of the founder of Bluford (my home town). We also found the tombstone of a soldier that fought in the war of 1812!
Sarah traveled a total of 75 miles from her home of 625 Wham Drive in Carbondale, IL to Roosevelt Lane in Bluford, IL. Sarah seemed to love the outdoors and the fall scenery.

Sarah Visits the Mount Vernon Historical Village!

My name is Chelsie George. I took Sarah to the Mount Vernon Historical Village on Monday, September 12, 2011. My boyfriend, Doug, went with us to the Historical Village. We took our car there, so I made sure Sarah buckled up in the backseat! Sarah traveled a total of 118.98 miles, so she was very tired. The coordinates for the Historical Village are 38.332354, -88.924563. I chose the Historical Village because it seemed really interesting and I had never been there before, even though I live in Mount Vernon. The Historical Village represents life in Jefferson County from the mid 19th century to some more recent years. In the village, there is a welcome cabin and gift shop, Koy Cabin, Clifton Cabin, East Hickory Hill School, City Calaboose, Mt. Olive Church, a blacksmith shop, the Jeffersonian Print Shop, a general store, the medical building (where Sarah and I took our pictures), and Schweinfurth Museum and Interpretative Center. The Schweinfurth museum holds exhibits of the history of camera, quilts, clocks, musical instruments, and bridal gowns. There are also two trails at the Historical Village. One leads travelers to the Old Union cemetary where there are graves of early settlers. The other leads through grasslands where markers are to describe historical events. The Historical Village is open from May through October. They also have many events, such as Kids Halloween Make and Take, Heritage Days, and Historical Village Kids Halloween. Needless to say, Sarah and I had a wonderful time at the Historical Village and learned a lot.

Frank visits old friends at Woodlawn

On Saturday, September 17, Frank and I went to Woodlawn Cemetery in Carbondale to visit some of his old Civil War friends. We did not have to travel far to get to our destination but it was still a very eye-opening experience nonetheless. Woodlawn Cemetery is located in the middle of Carbondale with latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of 37.726941, -89.21088. The historical site is the burial ground for several Civil War Veterans and those involved in the war in one way or another. Some of the sites within the cemetery that Frank and I found most interesting, include a mass burial of over 30 freed slaves who died of smallpox on their way north. Unfortunately, none of their names are remembered. There was also a woman, whose casket rests above ground because she was a supporter of the south and refused to be buried in "Yankee soil." Overall it was a good experience, I learned a lot and both Frank and I enjoyed the trip.

Frank Goes to Tunnel Hill Bike Trail

Franks adventure to Tunnel Hill State Trail started off a little rough. From SIU the car ride is 35 miles to the trail, however it is much worth the drive. My home is on the way to the trail, so we stopped to introduce him to my new kitten, Muffin, that did not like him very much. After he was fed, we took out on the trail for a walk to take pictures of this beautiful bike trail. My daughter made the trip with us, and for a six year old turned out to be a great photographer! She has been to the bike trail all of her life because it is only three miles from our home.
If the 45-miles of the trail could be seen in cross- sections, it would taper to its lowest points at either end, with Harrisburg and Karnak the lowest point and Tunnel Hill having the highest point. This point being just high enough to for the railroad builders to decide to tunnel through it, rather than go over it. The result is a comfortable 2 percent grade for the length of the trail. In 1929 a portion of the tunnel collapsed and this landmark was shortened by 300 feet, now 543 feet long.

During the 19th century the trail was a railroad that was a part of the cross country railway system. Among the developers was a Civil War General, Ambrose Burnside. Burnside was best remembered for his facial hair now called "sideburns. This railway system transported passengers, coal, salt, wood products, and orchard grown peaches and apples.

Frank Visits Historical Cape Rock

On Sunday, September 11th, 2011, Frank and I decided to visit historical Cape Rock Park in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The park is located on a beautiful lookout point on the Mississippi River at 37.3 degrees latitude and -89.5 longitude. When we arrived, Frank and I looked over the Mighty Mississip' and watched a barge pass as we relaxed on a bench and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Across the river on the Illinois side, we had a wonderful view of Shawnee National Forest and the great river bluffs.

After Frank and I soaked up the sights and sounds of the river, we decided to get down to business. I had been to Cape Rock before, however, I had never really grasped the depth of the park's historical significance. Frank had never been here, and he was eager to find out some information. So, he and I searched the premises and were pleased to find a wealth of information on plaques and monuments in the park. According to the information, we found that Cape Rock Park was the point where a french soldier named Jean Baptiste Girardot established a trading post around 1733. This area was later identified as Cape Girardot in his name. A little over sixty years later, just north of the prominent rock cape, Louis Lorimier established the settlement with the help of Shawnee and Delaware Indians and renamed the area New Cape Girardeau. The rock monument that Frank and I are posing with was actually part of the original "overhang" or "cape" on the river that drew in settlers. It was salvaged after most of the original cape was outcropped during construction of the railroad.

Frank and I also found that Cape Rock Park was a stopping point for Lewis and Clark on their expedition up the Mississippi River. They had written accounts circa 1803 of "landing at the cape" and joining the founder of the settlement, Louis Lorimier, for supper. This very site of the park is said to be where Lewis and Clark camped.

Frank and I had a great time traveling together. Our total round trip was approximately 98 miles, and we enjoyed every bit of our little road trip! We also learned some interesting information about a historical town on the Mississippi River. We both encourage everyone to visit!

-Lindsey Breithaupt

Sarah Goes to Giant City Stonefort

On September 10th Sarah and I decided to go to Giant City State Park and check out the Stonefort, which coordinates are at 37.6050502 and -89.1884151. It was such a nice day and an outdoor activity that we decided to invite my dog, Rory, with us. Rory and Sarah were quick to be friends they have a lot in common. They both like to go to historical sites, meet new people, and sniff out new areas. This made the 11.01 mile car ride a breeze, literally, they both stuck their heads out the windows.

Once we arrived we read the sign on the 1/3 of a mile trail and discovered that the stone wall is 285 feet long. This was most likely built between 400 and 900 AD. by the Lewis people. Sarah, Rory, and I became intrigued quickly and wanted to find out more. We started off on the hike once we go to the top of the bluff we came across another sign. This one was more informational and a picture of it is posted on the left.

We found out that there are at least 10 other sites that are similar to this one in southern Illinois. Archaeologists do not know what the stonefort was used for because there is no evidence of fighting. I quickly made a comparison of Stonehenge and the stonefort because they are both areas that have heavy stones, the stones at the stonefort can weigh over 200 pounds, and archaeologists are not quite sure why they were built. The stonefront was most likely used for social and sacred events.

Sarah, Rory, and I also found out that the wall was found first in 1883 and there were many artifacts found then. The wall was dismantled by the early 1900's. The Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the wall in the 1930's. The wall appears to have been eroded or dismantled again the wall is not as high as it is when they were rebuilding the wall. Sarah, Rory, and I had a lot of fun and learned all about the stonefort. Once we were done we hopped back into the car and talked about what we just learned.

Sarah Visits the Appellate Courthouse in Mt. Vernon

Sarah and I were able to quickly decide where we wanted to go. On September fifth, we visited the Appellate Courthouse in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Even though I have lived in Mt. Vernon for most of my life, I did not realize how much historical significance there is to this location. The Appellate Courthouse is located at North 38 degrees and West -88 degrees. So we got in my car and rode to 114th & Main in Mt. Vernon. This meant that Sarah traveled 119 miles from home to the courthouse and back home. We were lucky to have my mom as a traveling companion. Sarah and my mom got along great.

I learned so much more about the Appellate Courthouse. It was built in the Greek revival style in 1857. I knew that Abe Lincoln had been involved in cases here, but I did not know that Mt. Vernon hospital records show that Clara Barton, the founder of American Red Cross, was involved in an emergency hopital in the building in February of 1888 after a tornado. I also learned that there is a story about how the twin wrought iron stairways took three weeks to arrive in Mt. Vernon by ox-cart from St. Louis.

I feel honored to have gone on this adventure with Sarah. I was able to share with her what I knew about the Appellate Courthouse and we were able to learn more about it together. Sarah has told me that she cannot wait to go on an adventure with Chelsie and learn more about local history!

-Gena McKinzie

Frank visits the Mt. Vernon Appellate Courthouse

On Friday, September 2nd, Frank and I decided that labor day weekend would be best spent in my hometown, Mt. Vernon, IL. Of course I was excited to spend a few days in the comfort of my childhood home and Frank seemed to be excited too! Frank and I got in the car, beginning our adventure in Carbondale, and drove 50 miles to reach Mt. Vernon.

After arriving in Mt. Vernon, Frank and I spent the first two days of the weekend with my family and friends. On Sunday, September 4th, I decided that Frank must see the Appellate Courthouse that is located in Mt. Vernon. Frank was curious as to what the latitude and longitude coordinates were for the site and after researching, we found that the courthouse sits at 38 degrees latitude and -89 degrees longitude. Frank was also curious about the historical relevance of the Appellate Courthouse and I was eager to share information with him. The Appellate Courthouse was built in 1857. The courthouse is well known for having hosted several court cases in which Abraham Lincoln argued for various matters. Within the last year or so, the city of Mt. Vernon decided to place a statue of Abraham Lincoln on the lawn of the Appellate Courthouse. The back of the statue can be seen on the left side of the picture of me and Frank. After relaying all of the historical information I knew about the Appellate Courthouse, I decided that Frank deserved to hear a few more interesting facts. Frank and I began to research the Mt. Vernon Appellate Courthouse and we found a some interesting information. In February of 1888, a tornado hit Mt. Vernon and injured many people. Hospital records show that an emergency hospital was held in the courthouse building during this time under the supervision of Clara Barton, who was the founder of the American Red Cross.

Frank and I had a wonderful time on our adventure to the Mt. Vernon Appellate Courthouse. I am fortunate to have had such a great guest for the weekend who encouraged me to discover more historical information about signifcant sites in my hometown.

Sarah visits The Williamson County Jail 2011

Well, Sarah and I had a great long weekend hanging out and researching historical sites together. We went to the library and did some homework at the beginning of the week and we also went to the Du Quoin State Fair on Sunday and had a great time. Sarah and I decided that since I currently live in Williamson County that we would go visit a historical site in my county. After researching and reading about a few different sites Sarah and I first decided that we would go visit Willis Allen's House. So we headed over to Marion to check it out. However, when we got there we realized that it is currently someones home. We were a little disappointed because Willis Allen was the first Williamson County man to go to the U.S. House of Representatives. Also, the house is the oldest in Marion, Illinois!! But Sarah told me to not worry because she was prepared and had a back-up plan! I was very relieved and glad that I had her along for the ride at that point! So we headed on down a couple blocks to the old Williamson County jail (currently the Williamson County Historical Museum).
The Williamson County Jail served as a jail for almost sixty years. During its operation as a jail, it housed prisoners involved in significant evens in Williamson County's history and the history of Illinois. The Williamson County Jail served the citizens of the county from 1913 until 1971, when it closed. The facility was built to house 81 men and 6 women at one time, with a total prisoner capacity of 87. Something that Sarah and I found out when researching the jail was that Williamson County was actually a a very violent area of the county in the late 1800's into the 1930's. Sarah and I never realized this! There was a lot of labor violence due to the growth of coal mining in the county. It also was a strong location for the Ku Klux Klan violence and gang violence which was attributed to bootlegging during Prohibition. The county was actually nicknamed "Bloody Williamson" and the jail was often filled to near capacity or more than capacity to acomodate those awaiting trial. After the jail closed it was sold for $1.00 to the local historical society and is now a history museum. It was posted to the National Register of HIstoric Places on May 30, 2007. It was about a 35 mile round trip for Sarah and I and we traveled my car. I had a great time learning some interesting history about Williamson County with Sarah this weekend and am glad we had the chance to hang out together!