I & M CANAL 175th Anniversary

Celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal at these great family friendly places and activities. The suggestions below include indoor and outdoor activities, both educational and recreational. For more information on this year-long celebration honoring this legendary waterway, be sure to follow the I&M Canal National Heritage Area on Facebook (facebook.com/ iandmcanal) and visit iandmcanal.org

BECOME A JR RANGER (ages 5 to 95)

The IMCNHA has one of the favorite National Park Service do both and meet a National Park Service Ranger. Check iandmcanal.org for details.

OTTAWA’S TOLLHOUSE

LaSalle, 61301) or Isle a la Cache to attend a Jr. Ranger Day to

Ottawa’s tollhouse is a remarkable relic of the I&M Canal boom, a surviving original structure filled with recovered items and fascinating displays about the waterway’s storied history in a compact one-room footprint. Located conveniently in the heart of Ottawa’s downtown, right along the I&M towpath, you’ll find this immaculate looking 175 year old museum. A group of dedicated volunteers turned this husk of a building into a painstakingly researched approximation of what the canal collector’s toll house would have looked like back in 1848. For more information, visit pickusottawail.com/attractions/ im-canal-toll-house/

I&M CANAL BOAT

This 76-foot boat is the first on the canal in over 70 years, but the star of the show for adults and kids alike is Moe the Mule, who pulls the boat and passengers down the canal for a brief glimpse of what canal travel was like in 1848, when Chicago was the western frontier. The ride is about an hour long, enough to learn the history from the guide and the recorded history, but not too long for the kids. You are allowed to walk around the boat, sit in the cabin, or explore the upper deck. Catch a view of turtles sunning themselves on the rocks, while birds, fish, and other animals may make an appearance. Kids can become a Jr. Captain and visit the stern of the boat to see the rudder in action. Tickets are required, iandmcanal.org, 754 First Street,

I&M CANAL STATE TRAIL

This a perfect place to let your kids explore. The trail is flat, with either a crushed limestone or paved surface, making it ideal for walking, running, skipping, pushing a stroller, or bicycling. The trail has many access points in and near our canal towns, with 18 free parking lots along the 61 miles. Kids can see a variety of birds, animals, and fish, including herons, turtles, and deer, and sometimes an eagle. The trail is usually not too busy, and it can be easily shared by walkers and cyclists. There are many interpretive signs and mile markers along the way, many of them with QR codes offering local information, including nearby food.

“Wild

Hickok. Since 1990, the of the school is the herb garden, containing herbs and flowers native to Illinois. Many of the exhibits within our other buildings are of interest to families, including the Radium Dial Girls. lasallecountyhistoricalsociety.org, 101 E Canal St, North Utica, 61373