Historic National Road -- Illinois Overview

Published on Feb 17, 2006

When Joseph Schriver crossed Illinois in 1828 to survey the land for the construction of the National Road, he noted that he passed only two roads and saw two houses between the Indiana line and Vandalia, Illinois. In his time, Illinois was part of the western frontier: wild, and for the most part, untouched. Yet the area within the fledgling state's boundaries had already seen a lot of history.

Celebrate early Illinois history at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Come see the remains of the most sophisticated Indian civilization north of Mexico, preserved within a 2,200-acre tract. The city of Cahokia was inhabited from 700 to 1400 AD, during which time it became a regional center. Make a stop at the visitor center before you wander the grounds and follow the interpretative signs. Visit an old stockade, 24 different mounds, and traces of a horizon calendar, known as Woodhenge.

About the same time Schriver was crossing Illinois, Franciscan monks proselytized for the Catholic Church among the people here. Learn about the early inhabitants of Illinois by visiting the Franciscan Monastery Museum. Begun in 1858, the building originally served as the friars' home. Today the monastery houses a museum of artifacts from the region's first settlers, as well as the Franciscan Fathers. Examine the relics such as toys, kitchen utensils, farming equipment, Bibles in many languages, vestments, and furnishings. Put all these pieces together to find out what life was like for these early settlers.

Illinois isn't called the "Land of Lincoln" for nothing. Spend your time learning about our sixteenth president at his parents' living farm. In 1837, Abraham Lincoln's parents moved to a spot near the current National Road in Lerna. Stop over at his parents' farm at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. Take a peek at what school life was like for children during the mid to late 1800s at the Lincoln School Museum in Martinsville.

A wonder of early engineering awaits you at the end of the byway in East St. Louis. Built by a self-taught engineer, James Buchanan Eads, the Eads Bridge was the first to span the great Mississippi River. The bridge was built with a 50-foot clearance to accommodate riverboat smokestacks with a center span of an incredible 500 feet, thought impossible at the time. Today, the bridge stands as a monument to Eads, a man who thought well beyond his time. Wonder at this early marvel as you walk, bike, or drive across. The Eads Bridge is also the perfect place to view the mighty Mississippi flowing beneath you. Catch a truly spectacular sight as you stand on the bridge and watch the sun go down behind the horizon.

From American Indian settlements to presidential neighborhoods to man-made wonders, travel the Historic National Road today to trace the evolution of a state and people. Investigate ancient ruins and the many-faceted lives of 19th-century people.

Photo Credits

^ Back to top