It's a great little Museum, also an Amtrak station. Wonderful folks are working there; it's also a…read morehistoric train depot.

I've only been once, and briefly, but the neatness of the facility, the amount of historical…read moreartifacts (antique clothing, farm equipment, and more), the helpfulness of the staff and the holdings they have will bring me back sometime soon.

One of the little-known roadside attractions in southern Illinois is the Popeye Statue! If you…read morehaven't been to Chester, you'll find out right away that the creator of the Popeye character, E.C. Segar, was born and raised there. The river town has several tributes to the man. In addition, there are at least 8 other statues of Popeye characters around Chester. Be sure to check out the Visitors Center (if open) and get information on the history of Segar, as well as the locations for all of the other statues. The statue is located just as you are coming off the Mississippi River (Northeast direction), so its kind of oddly placed in front of the woods. But you and the family/friends will get a kick out of it, and of course, a photo op.

Kinda blew right past the welcome center hosting this tribute due to lots of goings on going on…read morewhat with the bridge construction and reconfiguring the approaches and all that... Popeye is all bronzed up for the world to adore as he welcomes folks to Chester Illinois, hometown of EC Segar. plenty of parking but the lot will need some attention when the road is completed. the visitor's center looks full up with sailor stuff so stop in when you can and have a look.. there's maps available that show the location of 18 other statues of characters from print and film if you want to spend a day doing nothing of merit but enjoyable regardless. this, the first statue, dates from 1977. after a twenty-nine year hiatus 18 additional marble statues were eventually installed around town - one per year - to enhance the visitor experience. yea Popeye!

What a lovely little park! It's very well maintained. I spent the afternoon here with my 3 year old…read moreniece, who loved their playground perfect for ages 2-5. Ground was covered in recycled tire treads, and the play equipment was just her size. There were a few benches, a pavilion with picnic table, and porta potty nearby in the area where she played. There are also some fun and unique features: - there is a small but picturesque waterfall (a bridal party was taking photos while we were there) - there is a mini Statue of Liberty, how fun and patriotic! - there was also a war memorial with some remembrance benches Of course, there were also some typical park attractions like a (very hilly) walking path; gazebo; pavilions with picnic tables and grills; koi pond; basketball hoop; and shady, grassy spaces to enjoy and be one with nature. This is a small park, and park was either street side or in one of two very small lots. This is not a busy spot. If you come here, it's to enjoy some quiet time with a grandchild (or niece or kids!), have a small friend and family gathering, and relax in DeSoto's small town hospitality. They take good care of their parks!

My favorite De Soto park. A beautiful, small, hidden gem of a park. It's a little off the main…read morethoroughfare so not usually as crowded as Walter Park. The pavilion and landscaping are very nice. Highly recommended.

Located along a quiet rural road between the Interstate and the Onondaga Cave State Park, this…read moremarker points out a two day Civil War engagement that took place here. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Fought Sept. 29 and 30, 1864. The night of Sept. 27, 1000 Union troops under Gen. Ewing, forced to evacuate Ft. Davidson at Pilot Knob or be annihilated, escaped through enemy lines. Gen. Price sent Gen. Marmaduke and Gen. Shelby in pursuit. Union forces covered 66 miles in 39 hours, fought 6 rear-guard skirmishes, arrived here exhausted and hungry. They fortified themselves along railroad, burned barns and haystacks to prevent a night attack. The next day they rejected a demand to surrender. The Confederates deciding against further battle turned away and rejoined Price at Union, Mo. Oct. 1, Federals withdrew, regrouping at Rolla." It needs some repainting and touching up but it is still legible. There is a small pullout where you can get off the road to read the sign. [Review 625 of 2024 - 320 in Missouri - 21656 overall]

Sept 2015, We went on a road trip from Nashville Tn to visit some state parks and historical sites…read morein Missouri. We stopped at Dillard Mill State Historical Site. Tony, Noel and I with Sammi parked in the parking lot and walked down the pathway to the start of the trail to the Mill. At first you kind of walk through the woods but then it opens up to a large field like area with a lake with a creek running into it and there is the large old mill. We went into the mill and looked around for FREE which was really nice. History: The Dillard Mill State Historic Site is a privately owned, state-administered property on Huzzah Creek in Crawford County, Missouri that preserves a water-powered gristmill.[4] The 132-acre (53 ha) site has been operated as a state historic site by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under a lease agreement with the L-A-D Foundation since 1975.[5] The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 A mill was built on Huzzah Creek in 1853 by Francis Wisdom and it was known as the Wisdom Mill. It was destroyed by fire in 1895. The property changed hands, and a new mill, the Mische Mill, was built in 1908. The Mische Mill used an underwater turbine rather than the old waterwheel, and the owners altered the course of the stream and the bluff at the site. The mill was in operation until 1956. It was renamed the Dillard Mill in 1975 when the state took over management of the property. It was dedicated as a historic site in 1977. Restoration of the mill was completed in 1980

This mill is just overabout 100 years old. It sits in a quiet and pretty remote part of Huzzah…read morecreek between Cherryville and Viburnum. The site in its entirety is much larger than I expected, with lots of picnic tables throughout, also an old country store you can walk through. A trail of about a half mile is required to get to the mill from the parking lot. This would be kind of a struggle for the elderly, I'd think. The best part of this mill is it seems to be just about in working condition, despite it's age. It was essentially put out of business when Pillsbury bought all the flour mills out. Occasionally, they'll turn a control wheel and get al the machinery working. They did it in the middle of our tour and it was very impressive. If you are a fan of machinery and "how things work" you won't want to miss this. The tour provides some interesting anectdotes and is definitely worth the $4 price. On a hot day, though, you might not want to spend a half an hour inside the building. Overall, I give it 3 and a half stars. It's not such a beautiful place that I'll be excited to send all my friends, but if you're like me and enjoy visiting these kinds of historic structures, I rate it worth seeing.

My husband I have started cycling in Kaskaskia, IL not long ago and we are definitely hooked! We…read morestart at the Kaskaskia Bell State Historic Site and do a big loop around the area - around 12 miles. It is so quiet here, very peaceful. The tiny town has a church that offers services each Saturday at 3:30. The Bell Historic Site gives a short presentation and a viewing of the bell (just press the button twice!). Great history here and we also found a few fun geocaches while here. This is true rural America - farmers in the fields harvesting corn and soybeans, folks gathering for church, waving as they go by. I know they hold an annual picnic in September, so be sure to check it out! I'm putting it on the calendar for 2012...

This marker is at the side of Missouri Route H just off Interstate 44 at exit 214. It is easily…read moreaccessible with a widening of the road where you can park. A small bridge (by the local garden society?) crosses the ditch. The front of the marker reads, "Early noted for its rich banks of iron ore, Crawford County was organized 1829, and named for Georgia Sen. W.H. Crawford. In territory ceded by Osage tribes 1808, the county was roamed by the Delaware and Shawnee into the period of settlement by Southern pioneers in the early 1820's. "Steelville, the county seat, was laid out 1836, and named for James Steel who sold the 40-acre townsite for $50. First settler at the site was William Britton, 1833. Court first met at James Harrison home in what is now Phelps County. Steelville (Presby.) Academy, chartered in 1853, closed in 1880's. "During the Civil War, guerrilla raids and troop movement devastated the area. The Southwest Br. of the Pac. R.R. (now Frisco) built through Bourbon, Leasburg, and Cuba in the county 1860, was almost destroyed. Union Gen. Thomas Ewing's troops, escaping undetected from Fort Davidson after the battle of Pilot Knob, were overtaken by Confederate Army units at Leasburg and a 36-hour engagement ensued, Sept. 29-30, 1864. Confederates withdrew before Union reinforcements arrived. The site is marked." The reverse reads, "A leading iron producer before decline of the industry in early 1920's, Crawford County had the first iron furnace in this central ore district of Missouri's eastern Ozarks. Near Bourbon, it was opened 1818, by William Harrison, first settler in the county, and Josiah Reeves. Other furnaces were Scotia in 1870's and Midland, 1874-94. Near Steelville, it used ore from the rich Cherry Valley Mines. Mining drew German and Austro-Hungarian settlers. "The St. Louis, Salem & Little Rock R.R. (Frisco) reached from Cuba to Steelville and south through the county, 1873. Cuba was laid out in 1857; Leasburg had its first house in 1859; Bourbon, in 1863. Cherryville, Huzzah, Dillard, Berryman, Davisville, Cooks Sta., Wesco are other communities. Part of the county lies in Clark National Forest. "The county with its Meramec River and big springs, has many pre-historic Indian sites. Near Leasburg are Cathedral and Onondaga caves. Old mills standing are Oak Hill, Westover, and Dillard. In Steelville for a time lived J.J. Upchurch, founder Ancient Order of United Workmen in PA., 1868." The marker was erected in 1961 by the State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission. [Review 627 of 2024 - 321 in Missouri - 21658 overall]

Brought my son after seeing someone comment about it online. Great way to spend a few hours…read more Ranger/site tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Recommend this for anyone but especially nice spot for kids.

What a interesting and educational museum. Have a 15 min video. Stones that glowed and equipment…read moreroom. U want walk around outside or on a trail for see the mining buildings. Has plenty of parking and 10 min drive from our camping grounds. They usually have a gift shop but it was closed. Great place to spend a hr or so. Girl working it was super nice and helpful with questions and paperwork.

So cool to have this amazing piece of history only an hour south of the St. Louis Metro area and…read moreit's free. It's located in the middle of farmland in its own private park. There is plenty of parking and a small picnic area and playground by the lot. Also near the parking lot are two primitive outhouses that are pitch black during the day so you would need to take a flashlight inside and watch out for spiders! It's a bit of a walk on some packed and loose gravel up to the fort. It's fun to explore inside and around the outside of the fort. In the back of the fort there is a contemporary climate-controlled bathroom with changing table and a small museum. Plan about 1 to 2 hours to explore. Please know that the immediate area has no restaurants/gas stations close by.

What a hidden gem! One of the oldest forts in the US, well maintained and free to explore. Great…read moreplace to enjoy the fall colors, bring a picnic or visit the informative museum that is also free on site.