I really appreciate the guest pass that I can use to print documents! The staff at this library are…read moresuper friendly , professional, and very helpful! It's a great atmosphere!

The Clay County Courthouse is a solid historic stop, even if you catch it on a Saturday when the…read moredoors are locked. Built in 1913 and designed by Joseph W. Royer, it's a Classical Revival limestone building with two tall two-story columns and a commanding presence on the town square. This is actually the county's fourth, following earlier buildings in Hubbardsville/Maysville and then Louisville, with this current structure replacing the 1870s Italianate courthouse. It is still the active seat of county government. Clay County itself was formed in 1824 and named for Henry Clay, the Kentucky statesman and three-time presidential candidate. Even with the building closed, there's plenty to explore on the grounds. The Oskaloosa Mill Stones are a surprisingly interesting piece of local history, and the veterans memorial adds a thoughtful touch to the grounds. I had just visited the Clay County Courthouse in Brazil, Indiana the day before, so it was fun to compare the two. Louisville's courthouse is smaller but has that classic early-20th-century civic look. For a quiet Saturday stop, it's a pleasant walk, a bit of history, and a nice snapshot of small-town Illinois. [Review 1060 of 2026 - 239 in Illinois - 26239 overall] And congrats to me on the round number. This is the 300th courthouse I have reviewed in my collection https://www.yelp.com/collection/rZS1xo3ZQ6XTLTIgRcwExg/Courthouses

Larger than the cross in Groom Texas that is 190 feet tall…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/largest-cross-in-the-western-hemisphere-groom?hrid=PtUjy_khtTSLjRfFYcssMA on Interstate 40, this is truly the Largest Cross at 195 feet. The land here isn't as flat as it is in Texas, so you don't have 20 miles of driving up to it to have some building Cross tension. This cross is at the intersection of the two major highways, Interstate 70 (between Indianapolis and Saint Louis) and Interstate 57 (between Champaign and Sikeston). It is only visible from the near vicinity and it is accessed through an industrial office park with good signage. At the base of the cross is a gravel parking lot that is big enough for the largest of vehicles. There are plaques for each of the Ten Commandments and a donation box next to the visitor's center. Interesting? Yes. Detour? Maybe not. [Review 19684 overall - 139 in Illinois - 656 of 2023.]

I'm not a religious person but I haven't been this far south in Illinois in many years and I wanted…read moreto do some sightseeing while on my way to Casey. This cross is absolutely beautiful and gigantic though the pictures I've seen at night are more impressive. I've driven through many states and they don't compare this much to the cross. It's free to walk around, there's plenty to read about it's history and observe in it's glory

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.

The Clay County Veterans Memorial in Louisville is a thoughtful and well-kept tribute, and even on…read morea quiet Saturday afternoon, it stands out as a place of real respect. The flags were at full mast during my visit, and the polished black granite panels looked sharp in the sunlight. It's a clear sign that Clay County takes pride in honoring its service members. The inscription is simple and direct, dedicated to the men and women who served in the armed forces and in special memory of those who gave their lives. The site is publicly accessible and listed as a Veterans Plaza commemorating all wars and times of peace, reinforcing its role as a central civic landmark. The memorial was dedicated in 2007 and sits at the southeast corner of Broadway and South Main Street. [Review 1061 of 2026 - 240 in Illinois - 26240 overall]

I suppose if you're a defendant you're not going to be thrilled with this building but it's worth a…read morestop if you're a traveler or a tourist. There's another photogenic white squirrel statue and this is such a friendly town if you stand next to this squirrel for even just a moment, some local will offer to hop out of their car and take a PIC of you with your phone. I grew up in Chicago so I initially thought this was a non-violent robbery attempt but instead this was a sincerely friendly encounter. It was so unusual to me that I hung around for a bit to observe and one by one and two by two other tourists stopped near the squirrel and other locals stopped to help them take pictures. There were a lot of tourists because of the total eclipse (of the sun not the heart), but I'm pretty sure that this town is always friendly. It's weird.