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A mid-1800’s architectural wonder helped make Chicago the city it is today. The 96-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) connected the Great Lakes in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru, and amazingly unique towns sprung up that maintain their authentic charm to this date.
READ ON!Freedom. The Open Road. The American Dream. All are still alive on The Mother Road. The nostalgia of diners, museums, tourist stops and neon lights are there for you to visit as you make the drive from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. You can still get your Kicks on Route 66!
READ ON!A visit to Starved Rock State Park consists of many sights to behold, including breathtaking views of its many canyons and awe-inspiring scenes of eagles flying during the winter month.
READ ON!The Heritage Corridor is filled with events that are waiting just for you. Live music, fun festivals, learning programs, and active adventures await.
READ ON!Are you looking for a specific type of place to visit in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor? If you're a craft beer fan, you will love the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail? Seeing a thrilling journey or just an escape, check out Adventure Outside Chicago. We've got all the info to unlock your next trip right here.
READ ON!When you visit the Greater Joliet Area from the Heritage Corridor, be sure to get up early because the area is jam-packed with activities! Great museums wait you to discover the history of this place. Wonderful architecture and charming shops will contribute to a unique experience. The antique furniture or vintage pottery and glassware will awake the treasure hunter within you!
History abounds in this area's canal towns with museums, architecture, mansions and more. Cruise down the historic Route 66 and stop off and get your picture taken in front of the Gemini Giant in Wilmington then "drive-in" to the Polk-a-Dot for a bite to eat. Fun awaits you with water parks, casinos, professional baseball, extreme sports or fun festivals. For casual to chic, the area features hundreds of restaurants.
There is no limit to the fun you can have in the towns of the Greater Joliet Area which includes Braidwood, Channahon, Crest Hill, Gardner, Joliet, Lockport, New Lenox, Plainfield, Rockdale, Shorewood and Wilmington.
Antiquing
It's the thrill of the hunt! Discovering the old-world craftsmanship of fine antique furniture or rummaging for pieces of vintage glassware and pottery and, searching shop after shop in a string of quaint towns, assisted by friendly dealers who live the passion of collecting every day. Welcome to the Heritage Corridor - a treasure-hunters paradise! Visit Water Street in Wilmington, where abundant shops beckon everyone from the serious buyer to the casual weekend bargain hunter. Discover hidden jewels tucked away in the charming shops of Braidwood, Lockport and Plainfield. Come to the Heritage Corridor - and happy hunting!
Channahon: Indian Mounds, State Park, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center
Explore the history of the Heritage Corridor in Channahon. The Briscoe Mounds are two well preserved Indian burial mounds dating back to 1200 - 1500AD, located on Front Street along the Des Plaines River in Channahon. The mounds are the largest Native American burial mounds in northern Illinois.
Step back in time. Channahon State Park is home to historic limestone and timber Locks #6 and #7 along the I & M Canal trail. A restored locktenders house is also located within the park.
Four Rivers Environmental Education center at Kerry Sheridan Grove- McKinley Woods is Channahon's gateway from the Joliet region to the Morris region of the Heritage Corridor.
Lincoln Landing
Explore this historic landscape to learn about Abraham Lincoln, the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and Lockport. Throughout the park, you will find clues about the people who lived in or traveled through the area. Here, you can discover the past that is all around you.