Point of Interest, Illinois State

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Escape the heat (and the crowds) with a visit to this beautiful waterfall in the Ferne Cliff State Park.

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Between the sandstone cliffs, babbling creeks, and secret swimming holes, this lush park is one of the best places to visit in the Shawnee National Forest.

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This waterfall may only be 20-feet in height, but it is trickling streams that flow for an additional 80-feet across steep rocks and sandstone ledges, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the state!

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Once you step foot inside this magical forest of 1,000-year-old cypress trees, you will be amazed that someplace this beautiful actually exists.

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These grass-covered mounds are not just part of a pretty outdoor park they are actually the remnants of an ancient pre-Columbian Native American city that dates back over 1,000 years.

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Out of all the waterfalls in Matthiessen State Park, this one has to be the most stunning.

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As you cruise down the Ohio River, look up at the limestone bluffs and you will see a massive 55-foot-wide cave peering over you.

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At first glance, this short .7-mile trail might not seem like much.

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Chicago has its very own slice of natural prairie grasslands right in the heart of downtown.

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The longevity of Illinois tallgrass prairie regions can be attributed to the herds of bison that roam through the land.

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Hugging the southern border of Illinois and Kentucky, this diverse region is home to some of the most spectacular natural attractions in the state.

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This 3,800-acre property of protected prairie grasslands, marshy wetlands, and wooded forests is one of the few places in Illinois of its kind.

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A testament to a lifetime of wind and rain erosion, this natural bridge is an architectural masterpiece.

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This nature reserve near the northern border of Illinois is the last remaining quaking bog in the entire state.

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Take one step inside Starved Rock State Park and you will immediately feel as if you have just entered an entirely different world.

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This 1,500-acre preserve is one of the last three remaining areas in the state with more than 500-acres of the forest.

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A designated National Natural Landmark, this serene pond is a critical habitat for many native birds and animals.

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Illinois has its fair share of rocky bluffs and steep canyons, but this one in the Shawnee National Forest has to be the most peaceful.

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The gigantic 200-foot walls of sandstone cradle the sides of Lush Creek as it twists and turns through this 906-acres of untouched wilderness.

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This is one of the more unique attractions in Illinois that is guaranteed to delight both nature enthusiasts and animal lovers.

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This historic house in Chicago is Hyde Park neighborhood was once the home of physicist Arthur H. Compton.

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Considered to be an architectural and engineering achievement, this historic lighthouse has been guarding the Chicago Harbor for over 100 years.

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Perched in the center of Grant Park in downtown Chicago, this rococo wedding cake-styled fountain is one of the largest in the world.

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Over 300 years ago, this French military fort was one of the most prominent structures of the French Colonial Empire.

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This lighthouse was built in Evanston after numerous, devastating shipping disasters occurring off the shore of Lake Michigan.

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Once used to smelt iron ore that was collected from the nearby mines, this once-functioning furnace is now a fascinating historic site in the Shawnee National Forest.

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Most history buffs are aware of Jean Baptiste Point Du Sables legacy as the first non-indigenous settler in Chicago.

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Covering over 105 acres of southern Illinois, this ancient site was once home to Mississippian culture tribes that lived in the area between 1,000 and 700 years ago.

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Take a step back in time while you explore a slice of Illinois state history at this living history farm and log cabin.

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This tomb in the Oak Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place for Abraham Lincoln.

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The fossils that were discovered in this site near Morris have formed over 309 million years ago.

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This rocky bluff may not look like much at first glance, but it Is historical importance dates back over 9,000 years.

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Established in 1876, this cornfield is the oldest experimental field in the country.

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This once-thriving village in the Illinois River valley was home to the Kaskaskia tribe in the late 1600s.

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Springfield Is fifth capitol building has a rich history that dates back almost 200 years.

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This 946-acre island on the Mississippi River is the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the country, producing military-grade tanks, grenade launchers, and artillery for over 140 years.

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Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this church is considered to be one of his most influential works.

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Chain o' Lakes State Park which borders three natural lakes is a water-focused recreation area.

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Located a few miles south of Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, in Deer Park, Illinois, is situated on 1,700 acres and was established in 1943.

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Established in 1972 and located in Carroll County, Illinois, just north of the town of Savanna Mississippi Palisades State Park is situated on 2,500 acres highlighted by large, stunning cliffs along the Mississippi River.

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Starved Rock State Park is the most popular Illinois state park among visitors who come for 18 canyons with towering walls of moss-covered stone within its 2,630 acres.

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Giant City State Park offers visitors of all ages the ability to enjoy camping and horseback riding to fishing and rappelling.

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It offers a variety of activities such as bicycling, hiking, swimming, boating, camping, bird watching and picnicking.

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Springfield, Ill., is the town most closely associated with the life of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who lived here from 1844 until he assumed the presidency in 1861.