Illinois

Region · 🇺🇸 United States

Population 12,812,508

Area 145,761 km²

Time zone America/Chicago

Official website www.illinois.gov

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Featured Lists

Serge Melki / CC BY 2.0

Illinois Essentials

Illinois features a mix of urban landmarks and significant historical sites. In Chicago, highlights include the 1914 Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, and the iconic Wrigley Field. Springfield serves as a hub for Abraham Lincoln’s legacy, housing his former home, presidential museum, and tomb. Architectural landmarks range from Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House to the ornate Chicago Theatre. The state’s deeper history is preserved at the Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage site documenting the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico.

14 places

Antoine Taveneaux / CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic Churches & Temples

Explore a collection of spiritual landmarks across the Illinois region and neighboring Midwestern states. This list features architectural highlights like Chicago’s 1953 St. Peter’s Church and the historic Old Cathedral in St. Louis. Discover 19th-century pioneer history at Mann’s Chapel and the Allen Chapel AME Church in Lincoln. From the grand Nauvoo Illinois Temple to the Catholic Historical Center at St. Boniface, these sites represent diverse denominations including Catholic, Episcopal, LDS, and Methodist traditions through their unique chapels, cathedrals, and sacred grounds.

9 places

Bev Sykes from Davis, CA, USA / CC BY 2.0

Historic Heritage Sites

This collection spans the historical landscape of Illinois and the Mississippi River region, featuring sites from pre-Columbian Mississippian mounds to 20th-century architectural icons. Explore the legacy of Abraham Lincoln through his Springfield law offices and presidential museum, or visit the preserved homes of Ulysses S. Grant and David Davis. The selection highlights Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School designs, the frontier history of Apple River Fort, and landmark institutions like the Adler Planetarium and the International Museum of Surgical Science.

15 places

redlegsfan21 / CC BY-SA 2.0

Parks and Recreation

This collection spans Illinois and neighboring regions, featuring significant historic sites and diverse natural landscapes. Highlights include the 1830s village reproduction at Lincoln’s New Salem, the ancient Mississippian mounds at Albany, and the Modoc Rock Shelter. Urban spaces include Chicago’s lakeside Milton Lee Olive Park and St. Louis’s Citygarden sculpture park. Natural areas offer varied terrain, from the limestone bluffs of Apple River Canyon to the extensive cave systems at Illinois Caverns.

15 places

user ChiSci / Public domain

Scenic Lookouts and Towers

Explore Illinois through its most distinctive heights and historic structures. This collection features the state's highest natural point at Charles Mound alongside the dramatic sandstone formations of the Garden of the Gods. Historic landmarks like the 19th-century Fort Sheridan Water Tower and the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower offer elevated perspectives of the landscape and major river junctions. From the riverside shrine at Portage des Sioux to the wildlife-rich vistas of Crab Orchard, these sites showcase the state's diverse geography.

7 places

Water Parks & Scenic Lakes

This collection highlights Illinois' diverse aquatic infrastructure and recreational sites. It includes expansive reservoirs like the 6,965-acre Crab Orchard Lake and Clinton Lake, alongside historic Mississippi River navigation systems such as the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. For recreation, the list features family-oriented facilities like Knights Action Park and Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center, which offer wave pools and slides. These locations combine engineering history with opportunities for fishing, hiking, and seasonal swimming.

12 places