Antique Boats Michigan
Wilmington Attractions and Recreational Facilities by Gary Smits
The scenic town of Wilmington, Illinois is nestled in the center of the breathtakingly beautiful Kankakee River Valley, fifty miles southwest of Chicago. The city of Wilmington also takes pride in its unique historical heritage. Originally settled in the 1830’s, the municipality of Wilmington was incorporated in 1865. Today, the city of Wilmington boasts southern Will County hospital and numerous historical buildings dating back to this time. Present-day Wilmington is also famous for its antique shops which bring shoppers from as far as Chicago and beyond. Earlier America can be seen in the remains of the nearby Illinois & Michigan Canal, which was completed in 1848. Originally connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi River and following a traditional Indian portage route, this hundred-mile long Canal extended from the Chicago River to the Illinois River near Peru and is now public parkland.
Travelers searching for the real America can get their kicks on Route 66. Celebrated in American folklore and song and television series as the Main Street of America, U.S. Route 66 passes through downtown Wilmington while winding from Chicago to L.A. To this day Route 66 contains numerous landmarks and buildings of historical interest. Originally part of the U.S. national system of highways begun in 1927, US Rte. 66 was completely paved in 1937. During World War II, when gasoline was strictly rationed and civilian traffic was limited, Rte. 66 was used primarily for military traffic. After the war, with the vacation boom, it soon became the quick route of travel to America’s national parks and the west coast. Rte. 66 brought new businesses and prosperity to the Southwest towns through which it passed, as America’s population moved west following the war. In 1984, when the parallel route Interstate 40 officially opened, Rte. 66 was decommissioned. Some present-day remnants of Rte. 66’s former glory days besides Wilmington healthcare are the Launching Pad Drive-In – recent inductee into the Route 66 Hall of Fame, and still serving hot dogs and ice cream as it did when it first opened in 1960. The Mar Theater in downtown Wilmington first opened in 1937, and is still a first-run theater showing current films and old classics several times yearly. The Route 66 Raceway needs no introduction to race fans. Also on old Route 66, The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a nineteen thousand acre natural history environment with guest center and tours for nature lovers and history buffs. Midewin is a Potawatomi Indian name for their society of healers and this prairie reserve is meant to heal the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The goal is to restore this fragile ecosystem to the condition in which the first European settlers first found it: with woods, clean waters, and abundant wildlife.
The northwest flow of the Kankakee River here is a rarity among the rivers of Illinois, and contributes much to the natural beauty and charm of the area. Wilmington’s abundant, environmentally-sustainable public parklands are a major attraction of Southern Will County healthcare, offering residents and visitors alike an unforgettable outdoors recreational experience. Nearby Kankakee River State Park envelopes both sides of the river for eleven miles. The park contains four thousand acres and is conveniently accessed from Interstates 55 and 57. Within Wilmington itself there are horseback riding, boating, canoeing, and fishing available, as well as swimming. Additionally, the Des Plaines Conservation Area nearby has over four thousand huntable areas. Visitors delight in its restful picnic areas, its abundance of wildlife, and its great variety of sportfishing species. The Des Plaines Conservation Area contains swamp and prairie environments, woodland and farmland, shoreline and still water; with great opportunities for sportsmen, nature lovers, and families.
Southern Will County healthcare is blessed with abundant natural resources in a scenic environment. Wilmington healthcare and southern Will County hospital are there to support the many recreational opportunities for hikers, boaters, campers, and fishermen.
About the Author
Gary graduated college in 1989 with a major in Business
Hessel Antique Boat Show 2009
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Lighthouses of the Great Lakes: Your Ultimate Guide to the Region’s Historic Lighthouses (Pictorial Discovery Guide) $8.99 Join Todd R. Berger and Daniel E. Dempster on a tour of the lighthouses of the Great Lakes! This lavishly-illustrated book details the fascinating history of such popular lighthouses as Split Rock, Sandusky, Big Sable Point, Old Mackinac Point Light, and Marblehead Light. Berger’s lively stories about lighthouse keepers and their families, horrific storms, and even encounters with ghosts, round … |