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!

I wouldn't necessarily have guessed I was going to say this, but this is a fun welcome center! It…read moreis located right by the Mississippi River and has a good parking area. There are clean restrooms and area information, as one might expect, but it's the other additions that make it stand out as more than just your typical rest area. There is a great overlook that provides a gorgeous view of the Mississippi. A Popeye statue outside gives you a hint to what you can find inside: it's the home of the creator of Popeye! Nearby are Lewis and Clark, and you can learn more about how their journey took them near this spot to cross the river. Nice stop!

Here to check the new bridge being build. Nice view at this cold weather 32 degrees sunny. Popeye…read morestatue. Enjoy reading stories about Popeye. Thank you

This is a picturesque historic park. We visited on a Friday in October when it was cool, rainy, and…read moreblustery so not anyone else there. The pavilion has a great view. On one side is a playground while the other side has 2 pit toilet buildings labeled "any gender." There was also a grill. The area down the road has the remnants of mounds where the fort ramparts were located. There's a sign which explains the history. In between the two sites there's an old cemetery. Near the entrance there's a sign for the Menard home located down the road not too far. Don't forget to visit it- the architecture is interesting even if the house is closed.

Open fields, historical graveyards, playgrounds, Mississippi overlook, picnic areas & a campgroundread more

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...

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.

" Nice Historical Home "…read more The Cohen Home is a beautiful historical site located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It has a wonderful view of the River. Its unusual blue storm windows make it a very visible landmark for boats on the river and travelers approaching the Chester Bridge from Missouri. It is speculated that the window color cut down on the heat entering the house. It is said that Mark Twain referred to the Cohen Home as "the house with blue windows" as he traveled the Mississippi. Tours of the home are usually done by appointments.

Great small park nice museum of Civil War and the battle and then the reconstructed earth fort The…read morediorama in the museum explains the fighting very well. The town is also nice clean and enjoyable

This place is so awesome and full of history! My friend introduced me to this site when I lived in…read morethe area. If you are a history buff, or closet one, such as I, you need to check this place out. Seriously. You are standing on the site of where the Battle of Pilot Knob took place. The Fort is still in great shape, you can walk all the way around it and see the gun batteries. Not only does it include earthenwork remains of the fort itself, but it also has a large visitors center with many artifacts, flags, and an award-winning video. Definitely worth the trip!

This is a great FREE park! You can see all the animals AND feed them for only 25 cents! My daughter…read moreloves coming here and interacting with the animals, playing on the playground, walking around the lake, and having a picnic under the trees. It really has something for everyone! This is the perfect park for a family outing or the perfect place to kill a few hours with your little one.

Suson park is such an amazing spot for the family. We recently attended their BOO Bash for…read moreHalloween! This was setup perfectly for all ages and allowed the kids to interact with the animals. Not only do we love to fish here, but they put on events for the community to come together. Lovely spot

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.

Wonderful old house, with historic value…read more The kitchen was kept in a separate building at the back of the property. Not having fire departments back then, cooking was done away from the main house for safety reasons. This is a great house to visit with period furniture. Well worth a visit.

We visited this site on 10/13/23 after driving through the Kaskaskia park. It was the last weekend…read moreof the season for the home. It was a little difficult to figure out how to get in because the front steps were roped off and the door to the museum (under the steps) was locked. So we went around to the back where we found the caretaker in the summer kitchen. We were treated to a very informative tour of just about the entire house. Michelle Baker, the guide, has a great deal of affection for the property and knew a lot about the Menard family and the history of the house and property. So glad we got to see it before the season ended. Oh, btw, the spring house is very interesting but watch out for chipmunks hiding there. You might just frighten them as much as they did you.