Letter f rom the Mayor

THE WELCOME MAT IS ALWAYS OUT WHEN VISITING PRINCETON!

Located on Interstate 80, in the middle of north central Illinois, Princeton is easy to find; a quintessential small midwestern town that has something for everyone.

Our Main Street is unique. We have an uptown business district to the north that is separated by a half mile from a downtown business district to the south, where it meets a courthouse square that is home to an historic winged monument that serves as a memorial to those from Princeton and Bureau County who served in the civil war.

It all begins where Main Street meets I-80 to the north, or if you prefer to see the countryside on your way to town, US Routes 6 and 34 make their way through town and Amtrak serves Princeton with eight stops a day.

Our unique uptown and downtown business districts are on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is where you will find a full complement of exceptional boutiques, wonderful restaurants, coffee shops and friendly residents and tourists alike. During the summer months, on the weekends, an old fashion trolley transports shoppers, residents and tourists from downtown to uptown and back again, with multiple stopping points along the way.

If it’s culture you’re looking for, you need to look no further than Princeton. We are home to Festival 56, the State’s largest summer theatre festival (they also add special theatrical events during the fall and winter).

Professional actors from around the country migrate to Princeton to live and perform during their summer season. Festival 56 presents a wide selection of memorable plays and musicals. And every Sunday the festival presents a fully staged, free production of a William Shakespeare play, on the court house square… it’s Shakespeare in the Park!

Speaking of the arts, Princeton has its own Walk of Fame where we recognize, with a star and plaque, those from Princeton who have made a name for themselves nationally and internationally, such as Academy Award nominated actor, Richard Widmark, Soup Opera star Kathryn Hayes, who portrayed Kim, on As the World Turns, for 38 years, Nick Young, retired CBS News correspondent who anchored CBS’ World News Roundup, and Keith Knudsen, former drummer for the Doobie Brothers during the 1970’s and early 80’s and again in the 90’s.

During the summer months Princeton Tourism presents our popular Down on Main Street Concert Series. We close down a section of our downtown Main Street business district five times a year beginning in June and ending in early September. Bands from throughout the region play in front of crowds exceeding 2500. If you make it to town for the September concert, you’ll find yourself in the midst of our annual Homestead Festival, a threeday event that draws thousands to town year in and year out. And if outdoor adventures are your thing, check out our annual Z Tour Bike Ride that attracts hundreds of riders each year!

If you’re a history buff, we have you covered there as well. We are home to Owen Lovejoy, a famous abolitionist during the early to mid-1800s. He served as a representative in the U.S. Congress and did so until he passed away. Shortly after Owen Lovejoy died, Lincoln said that, “Lovejoy was the best friend I had in Congress”. Lovejoy’s home, which is open for tours, is located on the east edge of town. It is listed as a National Historic Landmark; one of only 2600 National Landmarks throughout the country. In October, Princeton is home to one of the largest Civil War re-enactments anywhere, Shadows of the Blue & Gray. It is held at our beautiful City-County park, which provides a truly unique setting for such a popular event.

We are also home to two covered bridges; the youngest and oldest in the state. The oldest is the Red Covered Bridge, built in 1863, and it is still in use today. The Bureau County Historical Museum and Research Library, located on the court house square, is a treasure trove of artifact collections from around Bureau County and the state. It is home to the famous H.W Immke Photography Collection, some 20,000 glass plate negatives and photographs taken between the years 1866 and 1923. Also preserved is photographic equipment owned and used by Mr. Immke.

We invite you to visit and explore Princeton. We have so much to offer, not only for our residents but for business, industry and tourists alike. Princeton… it’s the gold standard of where to live, work, visit and play!

Mayor Ray Mabry