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DECATUR: MACON COUNTY
Discover Decatur/Forsyth — Where Historical, Cultural And Recreational Opportunities Abound
T
he Decatur/Forsyth area offers visitors a wide variety of leisure and sightseeing opportunities with outdoor activities, historic sites, family attractions, museums, art galleries and numerous festivals and events for all ages.
Gardens with exotic plants, waterfalls, ponds and winding trails. For more information, call 217-421-7435, or visit www.decaturparks.org/zoo. The African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society of Illinois Museum: Located at 314 N. Main St., offers genealogy workshops, museum displays and storytelling. Call 217-429-7458, or visit www.african-amercancultural.org. Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum: Located at 3635 U.S. Route 36-E, features classic autos such as race cars, Indy 500 pace cars, original unrestored examples of some of their finest automobiles built and includes an extensive Chevrolet memorabilia collection. For more information, call 217-454-4583 or visit www.chevrolethalloffamemuseum.com. The Children’s Museum of Illinois: Located at 55 S. Country Club Road, the Children’s Museum offers hands-on exhibits that encourage children of all ages to touch and interact. Focusing on people and cultures, the arts, physics/physical science, the ecosystem and health sciences, the museum is so much fun for everyone visitors tend to forget it’s educational. For more information, call 217-423-KIDS, or visit www.cmofil.com. Hieronymus Mueller Museum: The Hieronymus Mueller Museum’s namesake, called Decatur’s “unsung genius,� held over 500 patents. See such treasures as the seventh of only eight cars manu-
Mari-Mann Herb Farm has been designated as an official Illinois herb garden.
Mari-Mann Herb Farm: People who love the outdoors will enjoy Mari-Mann Herb Farm, 1405 Mari-Mann Lane, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest herb farms. Mari-Mann offers luncheons by appointment, tours and a shop where all sorts of natural herbal and homeopathic items are sold. For more information, call 217-429-1404, or visit www.marimann.com. Governor Ogelsby Mansion: Richard J. Oglesby is best known both as a friend and political ally of Abraham Lincoln. Oglesby was also with Lincoln when he died in 1865. His beautifully restored Victorian home at 421 W. William St., is open for scheduled tours. For more information, call 217-429-9422 or visit www.ogelsbymansion.org. Rock Springs Conservation Area and Nature Center: At 3939 Nearing Lane, Rock Springs offers a glimpse of the natural forests and prairies that existed when early settlers first came to central Illinois. Included are birding and nature walks over woodlands and wetlands where visitors will find wildlife in abundance. For more information, call 217-423-4913, or visit www.maconcountyconservation.org. Scovill Park and Zoo: Located at 71 Country Club Road. At Scovill Zoo, one of the few accredited zoos in the area, visitors will see cheetahs, Bactrian camels, a socialized pack of wolves, and several more species of exotic mammals, birds and reptiles from all over the world. There’s an endangered species carousel, a zoo train and a state-of-the art playground on the zoo premises. Just a few steps away from the zoo are the Scovill House and Oriental
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2012 Discover Visitor & Vacation Guide To Central Illinois | PAGE 67