After reading my pal Bruce K's review, I'm almost convinced this is not the world's largest gavel -…read morewell, maybe the world's largest wooden one. But who knows; I'll read up on it later. As part of the City of Casey's "large things" promotion, they decided to spread the love of large to their county seat's court house. The court house does have a lot of history, especially Abraham Lincoln-related. There is a quote attributed to Lincoln under the gavel. If you're cruising through Marshall and/or the Historic National Road, don't miss out on this!

Lest I get smacked by the actual World's Largest Gavel (that appears to be in Columbus OH), this…read moreone is perhaps the World's Largest WOODEN Gavel and it is in the entranceway to the Clark County Courthouse in Marshall, Illinois. The city has it on their website as such, https://marshall-il.com/places/united-states/illinois/marshall/worlds-largest-gavel/. A plaque on the base reads, "'The best way to predict the future is to create it.' -Abraham Lincoln." Dedicated to the past, present and future judges of Clark County Illinois. There is street parking and the area was very quiet on a Sunday morning. Plenty of parking. [Review 19667 overall - 122 in Illinois - 639 of 2023.]

This is a small quiet winery a few miles off of Interstate 70. I have been visiting for a decade,…read moreand appreciate the quiet atmosphere. They have flights, so you can sample before you buy a bottle. There are snacks like cheese, nuts and meat, to purchase in a cooler if you are hungry. There are also plenty of beverage choices if you do not wish to have wine, and milk and juice for kiddos if you are visiting with your family. I have always felt comfortable walking in with my kids. We often stopped here on our way from Indianapolis to St. Louis and stretched our legs. It is also close to a beautiful covered bridge, so i t makes pulling off the interstate a nice experience to pair the winery and bridge together. I feel like the wines are a combination of excellent flavor and yet affordable for yourself or as a gift. This year they has a wine called "Let it Snow" with edible glitter that made a beautiful swirl.

Lovely vineyard nestled in Cumberland County close to the interstate…read more We really enjoyed the ambiance sitting on the porch overlooking flowers, grapevines, and nature. The owners were very friendly and helpful. I tried a flight of wine and a slushy, my husband had the Canoe. We left. with a bottle of Canoe and cherry wine. If you want food you can bring your own or they had cheese and crackers for sale.

It was only a matter of time. The Mug Tree was an old tree. Mugs were placed with it and that…read morebrought it alive again in our hearts. Many, many mugs. Travelers along the highway admired that old tree, adorned with mugs. It offered a silent respite in our daily lives. It offered hope, that no matter what pains we carried, there was the Mug Tree. The Mug Tree, which was created out of the generosity of hundreds of people, most likely strangers to each other, but friends with a common goal of taking an old, dead tree along a country highway and giving it purpose, once more. The Mug Tree. A local landmark, never to be recognized as a national monument. Unlike the more famous curiosities just a few miles north in Casey, this oddity stood outside of the door to fame. Yet, to those of us who passed by, it stood for years alongside that country highway, day and night. Like an old trusted friend. So, to those who read these words and never knew the Mug Tree, I am sorry for your loss. And to those thousands of travelers that passed by and noticed, if you grieve, you grieve not alone. Dear Mug Tree: So long, my friend. Thanks for all the smiles you brought to our hearts.

So... It was fun to see this tree in passing on the way to Effingham but I felt like the house on…read moretop could've been utilized for birds or something.

I think most drivers aren't aware of the number of bridges they cross but they would sure be aware…read moreof them if they were missing. Imagine the hassle of trying to drive your vehicle over some stream or creek instead of zipping on by at 40 or more miles per hour. This is one such bridge and if it wasn't for the sign, I wouldn't have been aware of the historic nature. National Road and this bridge were here before US-40 was built nearby and of course, I-70 passes by a few miles away. So think back in time and here we are. The marker reads, "This Bridge was completed by Army Engineers sometime between 1834 and 1837 as part of the Old National Road, between Cumberland, Maryland and Vandalia, Illinois, was authorized by the enabling act of 1803 and was the Nation's first federally financed highway. The Bridge is a prime example of the Stone-building art and early American Engineering. Stones were precisely cut and fitted together without bond or mortar. Many stone arch bridges were built along the Cumberland Road, but this was the only one is still in use at the time of the marker dedication." The marker was erected in 1976 by the Clark County Historical Society and the Illinois State Historical Society.. There is not room to pull over on the bridge but there is a nearby crossroad where you can stop and see the bridge from the side. It's an impressive structure especially considering that it is over 150 years old and in constant daily use. [Review 19671 overall - 126 in Illinois - 643 of 2023.]

Reviewing historical structures like this can be difficult, but for any Historic National Road…read moreenthusiast - it's a must-do! If you are heading west out of town, be sure to check out the Old Stone Arch Bridge. No, you can't pull over and look but you can turn left on Oak Crest Road and pull off there. That way, you get a nice view of the bridge. If you want to read the historical marker, then you gotta walk up a-ways. By the way, did you know Abraham Lincoln went across this bridge many times during his lawyer days?

A little distant from the town of Casey but it's still one of those "Largest Things" that you need…read moreto see if you're in the area. This is the World's Largest Horseshoe and yes, it's large. You can see that here as I parked next to it for scale. The claim to fame as world's largest became official in 2013, when this 1,144-pound cast iron horseshoe was verified by Guinness World Records. Then in 2015 it was surpassed by a slightly larger horseshoe in Kentucky that weighed half as much. So I wouldn't say that you need to go out of your way, unless you're interested in the world's largest things. Or perhaps you're already here for the Martinsville Agricultirual Fair. [Review 19672 overall - 127 in Illinois - 644 of 2023.]

I was looking for Eclipse glasses yesterday morning, and although the library didn't have any, I…read morewas informed where I could go to get some; which I did, and my son and I were able to view the Solar Eclipse safely. Mission Accomplished ! Many thanks to Tonya-one of the many wonderful resources of this library.

If you live in Charleston then you know how limited the public resources have become in this…read moreeconomy. That said, this library is receiving my 5 star rating and Charleston my gratitude for developing this treasure. I'm impressed with the design of the library addition, both beautiful design and interior functionality. The librarians are knowledgeable and always willing to help locate an item or look up a requested rarity. The genealogy section is vast and the kid's area is clean and bright. I've found a great variety of new authors and discovered a few paperbacks that saved my summer. Also, they have a computer station that I was able to use for 2 wks when I finished school and turned off my internet while moving. Overall, if you don't own a library card then you don't know what you are missing for free :)

The World's Largest Wooden Shoes are found in a candy shop in the quaint little town (population…read more3,000) of Casey, IL. This is one of a dozen "things" offically recognized as the World's Largest: World's Largest Wind Chime World's Largest Golf Tee World's Largest Pitchfork World's Largest Rocking Chair World's Largest Wooden Shoes World's Largest Mailbox World's Largest Gavel World's Largest Truck Key World's Largest Barbershop Pole World's Largest Teeter Totter World's Largest Golf Driver World's Largest Swizzle Spoon Well worth a detour off of I-70.

The Wooden Shoes are housed in a historic downtown building that dates back to the late 1800s. Once…read morelocated along the Doty Railroad, the building is now home to Wildflour Bakery and Candy Company. The Wooden Shoes gained the World's Largest title on October 20, 2015. Each Shoe weighs approximately 2500 pounds. To give an example of the size of the clogs, as part of a photoshoot, 15 people were able to stand inside one shoe. ​Coins thrown into the Shoes are donated to the Big Things Small Town Funds to continue to promote Casey and keep tourist areas looking beautiful.

In a small town full of the World's Largest Things, this is the World's Largest Pitchfork. It's…read morenext to a farm and a farm-to-table restaurant so like the other World's Largest Things in Casey, the location makes perfect sense. There is a walking path and some landscaping nearby so you can absolutely get the perfect photo opportunity with the pitchfork. I pulled up the van to get a picture for scale and then found a better parking space so that people who didn't want to see my Sprinter van could get their shots. I would encourage you to do the same and think of the other visitors who don't want you in their photos. Other than the restaurant, there isn't much else here. Maybe get a meal and then check out the other World's Largest Things nearby. [Review 19673 overall - 128 in Illinois - 645 of 2023.]

Not the most exciting largest item in town. Located on the side of Richard's Farmhouse Restaurant,…read moreit's very easy to find.