Southland Heritage Trail

Embark on an unforgettable journey through history as you explore the rich heritage of Illinois on the brand-new Southland Heritage Trail. Stops along the trail include historical societies, museums and landmarks that serve as some of the most significant sites of our region. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a curious traveler, the Southland Heritage Trail promises an enlightening experience, connecting you to the stories and people that define the Chicago Southland.

Chicago Portage National Historic Site – Forest View (FPDCC.com)
This site is one of only two national historic sites in Illinois. It marks the western end of the historic portage linking the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and includes a section of the Salt Creek Trail System, which runs along the Des Plaines River, Salt Creek and Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Hiking, walking and bicycling access can also be found here.

Chicago Portage National Historic Site (Forest View)

Pullman National Historical Park (National Park Service Visitor Center) and Pullman State Historic Site – Chicago (NPS.gov/Pull)
Railroad magnate George Pullman planned this model industrial town, which began in 1880, for employees of his Pullman’s Palace Car Company. The neighborhood featured the workers’ homes, church, market and recreational facilities. Start your visit to the historic Pullman neighborhood at the National Park Service Visitor Center, which is housed inside the incredible administration-clock tower building. Exhibits, an NPS shop and ranger programs are held at this site. Next, continue across the street to the Hotel Florence and stroll through the neighborhood to see the stunning rowhouses as well as the Greenstone United Methodist Church.

Palos Historical Society – Palos Hills, Palos Heights and Palos Park (PalosPark.org)
The Palos Historical Society was founded in 1957 to institute and encourage historical inquiry, to collect and preserve materials of historical significance and to spread historical information. Today, the society holds meetings, lectures, social events, field trips and Memorial Day services, alongside its work researching and preserving historical facts. Archives and display cases are available for viewing in the community room. The historical society is open every Tuesday from 9AM-1PM or by appointment.

Charles & Jennie Young House (Blue Island)

Blue Island Landmark Trail – Blue Island (BIHistoricalSociety.org)
A collaboration between the City of Blue Island and the Blue Island Historical Society, the Blue Island Landmark Trail is an ever-growing list of the city’s local landmarks with a variety of stops through all areas of the city. Residential architectural masterpieces along the trail include homes by notable architects Bertrand Goldberg and Robert Seyfarth, among others. The trail also highlights landmarks in the historic Uptown and Olde Western Avenue business districts, many of which trailblazers can visit to shop, dine and enjoy. Recent restorations to the area include original streetcar tracks, cobblestones and brick pavers. The battleground that drove the Illini tribe out of the area is also highlighted on the trail, along with one of the oldest Metra stations still in service along the Rock Island service line, which is adjacent to the Blue Island railyard that was the site of great unrest during the Pullman Strike of 1894. Visit BIHistoricalSociety.org/Blue-Island-Landmark-Trail for an interactive map of each stop along the Blue Island Landmark Trail.

Robbins Historical Society & Museum – Robbins (RobbinsHistoryMuseum.org)
The museum’s current 40-by-40-square-foot facility opened its doors in August 2010. Robbins is the second-oldest Black-incorporated town in the North and was home to the first Black-owned airport in the country. The airport, which was built in 1931, trained pilots who later went on to become Tuskegee Airmen, aviators who fought during World War II. Nine of the original 996 Tuskegee Airmen hailed from Robbins. Groundbreaking actress Nichelle Nichols was born in Robbins, and her father, Samuel, served as the village’s mayor. Photos, artifacts and records are on display at the museum.

Senator John Humphrey House – Orland Park (OrlandPark.org)
Built in 1881, the Senator John Humphrey House was the second home built in downtown Orland Park. The historic home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. John Humphrey was a senator and also served as Orland Park’s first mayor after the village’s incorporation in 1892. The Humphrey family lived in the house for several generations until 1987, when it was willed to the Orland Historical Society, which later converted the home into a museum. Original furniture, books, textiles and china furnish the museum’s rooms. The property also has a garage, which was the original site of the family’s barn, an outhouse and a stone building used to store gasoline.

Midlothian Historical Society & Museum – Midlothian (VillageofMidlothian.net)
Consisting of volunteers who are dedicated to the preservation of Midlothian’s history, the Midlothian Historical Society & Museum is housed in the town’s former library and schoolhouse building. The organization’s goal is to maintain an awareness and appreciation of the history of Midlothian and is open on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 11AM-2PM. Visitors will find exhibits on the history of the area, including a significant amount of Scottish memorabilia.

Midlothian Historical Society & Museum (Midlothian)

Calumet City Historical Society & Museum – Calumet City (CalumetCityHistoricalSociety.org)
Historical exhibits, a research room, souvenir/book table and a meeting hall featuring monthly programs can all be found at the Calumet City Historical Society & Museum. As built in 1951, the building still retains much of its vintage mid-century character remaining from its days as a library. Located in the original West Hammond area, the historical society is surrounded by other old houses and churches. Monthly history programs covering a variety of topics are offered on the second Sunday of the month, free of charge. Sustained by memberships and donations, the Calumet City Historical Society & Museum maintains and continues to restore the building. Visit on Tuesdays from 2-4 PM, Thursdays from 1-4 PM and on the second Sunday of the month from 1-5 PM.

Paarlberg Homestead Museum and Historic Site – South Holland (SouthHolland.org)
In 1847, the Paarlberg family set off from the Netherlands to the United States in search of freedom from religious persecution. Tragically, the Paarlberg patriarch did not survive the voyage, leaving his widow, Antje, alone with their seven children. When Antje arrived in the South Holland area, she purchased 80 acres of land for $7 per acre and built a log cabin. In 1870, this homestead was built by Antje’s son, Peter Paarlberg, for his bride, Cornelia Van Oostenbrugge. The house was built on a foundation of rock from the nearby Thornton Quarry and included a parlor, bedroom and kitchen on the main floor. In 1894, a large portion of the house was added to the original structure and included the back porch. A summer kitchen was added in 1915. Two direct Paarlberg descendants still own and maintain the farm today, growing soybeans and corn. An annual heritage festival is held on the homestead annually on Labor Day, allowing visitors to take a step back in time and enjoy this unique spot.

Thornton Distilling Co. – Thornton (ThorntonDistilling.com)
The oldest standing brewery in Illinois and Al Capone’s largest bootlegging facility during Prohibition, Thornton Distilling Co. has a colorful history. In 1857, John Bielfeldt built a brewery with a 10-barrel kettle on the west bank of Thorn Creek. The site already included a log cabin saloon, which opened in 1836, and an artesian well that taps into a 1,500-foot-deep underground aquifer that originates from Lake Superior. The rich minerality of this limestone-filtered water provides a rare and desirable effect on brews and spirits, making Bielfeldt’s one of the most well-respected breweries around. Over the years, different brewing companies and other businesses utilized the space. Thornton Distilling Co. officially launched on the anniversary of Repeal Day, December 5, 2019, with their artisan line of Dead Drop Spirits. A complete timeline of the brewery’s history can be found online at ThorntonDistilling.com/History. Today, visitors can enjoy a cocktail bar and restaurant. Public and private events frequently occur at Thornton Distilling Co., and tours and tastings are available.

Dorband-Howe House Museum/Historical Society (Homewood)

Dorband-Howe House Museum/Historical Society – Homewood (HomewoodHistoricalSociety.com)
The site of Homewood’s first official historic landmark, the Dorband-Howe House Museum/Historical Society was built in 1893 by Henry Gottschalk, the founder of Gottschalk Brick and Tile Works, creators of the “Homewood” stamped bricks. Gottschalk was the son of an early Homewood settler, William Gottschalk of Germany, and was an entrepreneur, owner of three hay presses, president of the Homewood State Bank and a village president. The home was originally built for an employee, Christian Dorband. His working man’s cottage is a significant expression of American architecture and America itself. The structure retains its original summer kitchen, and the yard was transformed into flower-filled garden rooms after Charles and Hertha Howe purchased the property in 1941. Today, it is home to the Homewood Historical Society, which is open to the public on Saturdays from 1-3 PM or by appointment. Additionally, the historical society offers free programming on the second Wednesday of the month at the Homewood Public Library.

Ford Airport Hangar (Lansing Municipal Airport) – Lansing (FordHangar.org)
The Ford Airport Hangar was originally built by Henry Ford to help supply his Chicago-based auto plant, and as a part of Ford’s efforts to convince the public that air transport was safe and reliable. Construction on the hangar started in 1926 and was completed in 1927. The hangar was designed by industrial architect Alfred Kahn, who also designed another hangar in Dearborn, Michigan. Prior to Kahn’s designs, airplane hangars were often small, dark places made of wood and resembling large barns. This hangar, however, features cantilevered construction, which frees the interior space of columns; large glass-paned windows to allow lots of natural light; and doors on wheels and tracks, allowing one person to open and close them. There was even a passenger waiting room, one of the first of its kind. The Ford Airport Hangar was large enough to accommodate three Ford tri-motor planes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 9, 1985.

Matteson Historical Society & Museum – Matteson (MattesonHistoricalSociety.org)
Founded in 1975 with the goal of collecting items of significance to Matteson’s storied past, the Matteson Historical Society & Museum features a vast collection of archives, objects and permanent exhibits, while also offering services and events. The mission of the museum is to curate, conserve and provide access to historical documents and artifacts. The collection includes newspaper clippings dating back to 1943; topological, plat and zoning maps; photographs of people, places and things from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries as well as aerial images; and a variety of documents that include church archives, railroad history, Lincoln Highway history and rare books used by early settlers. Other items, such as historical clothing and farming equipment, can be found as part of the museum’s permanent exhibits, along with genealogical resources and research opportunities.

Union Street Gallery – Chicago Heights (UnionStreetGallery.org)
The Union Street Gallery was founded in 1995 as part of a small business incubation project and subsidized by the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation. In 1998, the studio artists formed a collaborative to run the gallery and develop its potential as a local and national art resource. The gallery is housed in the former Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks building, originally completed in 1927. This location was secured in 2006 with help from the City of Chicago Heights. The upper floors’ decorative terracotta, including a polychromatic medallion featuring an elk’s head clock, still exists. Across the street is the former Chicago Heights Star newspaper Tudor-style building, which was completed in 1928. Today, this three-story landmark building is home to 15 artist studios and also hosts a variety of art shows and offers classes, workshops, artist talks and more. Union Street Gallery facilitates a variety of engaging arts experiences and opportunities that support the creative growth of artists and art appreciators, adding to the cultural landscape of the Chicago Southland. The gallery is free of charge and open to the public.

Union Street Gallery (Chicago Heights)

Frankfort’s Water Tower – Frankfort (FrankfortHistoricalSociety.org)
The first water tower built in the Village of Frankfort was completed in 1894 and was made of metal and wood. The structure was erected on Kansas Street by the Fairbanks Morse Company for a total of $4,150 in materials and labor. The tank, tower, 3,000+ feet of pipe and 11 fire hydrants successfully introduced a modern water system in the village. A 1910 fire damaged the roof of the tank, and although the wooden tank was repaired, it was only used until 1915, when an all-steel tower and tank were constructed to replace it. This water tower still stands today at a height of 130 feet and can hold 100,000 gallons of water. The tank served as the village’s only water storage until 1971. Although the tank has not been used for many years and was disconnected from the village’s water supply in 1993, the Frankfort Area Historical Society firmly believes that the water tower serves as a reminder of the village’s landscape and identity and continues to symbolize a connection to the past.

1950s Park Forest House Museum, Park Forest Historical Society – Park Forest (ParkForestHistory.org)
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum is located inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church and represents an original townhome as it would have been from 1948-1953, the first five years of the village. Park Forest is the first fully planned, post-World War II suburb, built to give housing preference to returning veterans. The museum began in September 1998 as a temporary, two-month exhibit set up inside an original rental home. This unique museum is a great way to get acquainted with the history of Park Forest as well as to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone who lived in the 1950s or 1960s. Visitors are encouraged to open drawers, cupboards and closets to discover period treasures inside. Contents of the house include toys, children’s and adult books, dishes, serving pieces, furniture and clothing from the period. More information on the museum’s exhibits, mission and activities can be found online.

Crete Area Historical Society and Museum – Crete (CreteHistorical.com)
Soon to be housed in the former Crete Congregational Church, the Crete Area Historical Society and Museum is comprised of a group of local history enthusiasts. The structure itself was built in 1853 and served as a place of worship for locals, many of whom were “conductors” on the Underground Railroad. These conductors were dedicated to the abolition of slavery, and helped escaped slaves reach freedom. On January 31, 1841, the church’s members took an oath to do everything within their power to bring a peaceful and speedy end to slavery, which was written in the original minutes record book, an artifact that still exists today. The church was designated as a historic site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Trail in 2018 by the National Park Service. In 1963, the space was reconfigured into an antique store and is currently being reconfigured again to house the new site of the Crete Area Historical Society and Museum, with a mission to preserve, display and communicate the history of Crete through historic items, pictures and documents.

Crete Area Historical Society and Museum (Crete)

Monee Heritage Center at The Creamery (Monee Historical Society) – Monee (MoneeHistoricalSociety.com)
Known today simply as “The Creamery,” this historic building was erected between 1870 and 1873 by three dairy businessmen, who produced butter and cheese using the milk of local farmers to craft 200 pounds of butter and cheese daily. After the dairy business moved elsewhere in 1897, the property changed hands several times until it was sold for $6,000 to Monee firefighters in 1950. The building sat empty for many years and was originally slated for demolition in 2011. However, a group of concerned citizens formed the “Save The Creamery Foundation” and worked tirelessly to raise awareness to save this iconic structure, raising money to restore the building. It is one of the last remaining creameries in Will County and was designated as a Will County Historic Landmark in 2016. Save The Creamery Foundation eventually became the Monee Historical Society, and The Creamery became the group’s headquarters. With thanks to the Village of Monee and dedicated citizens, the building has been restored to its former glory. It is open every Tuesday from 10AM-3PM, along with one Saturday per month for Heritage Day programs.

Washington Township-Beecher Depot/Museum – Beecher (VillageofBeecher.org)
In the late 1800s, the Village of Beecher was established due to railroad expansion through the area. Thanks to efficient rail service, the area continued to grow and develop. By the end of the 19th century, a thriving business district had been created in the heart of the village, and the C&EI Depot became the center of activity. Located at 620 Reed Street, between Hodges and Penfield streets, the depot was built in 1881 by the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes (CD&V) Railroad before the Chicago and Eastern Illinois (C&EI) Railroad took over operations until the depot’s closing in the 1960s. The depot was sold to Thompson Winery in the 1980s and used as a gift shop until it was returned to its original site in Beecher in 2000. The structure was then renovated to its present state as a standard wooden depot. It is one of the last of its kind remaining along the former C&EI route. Today, it is home to the Beecher Community Historical Society and is open on Saturdays from 10AM to noon.

Peotone Windmill – Peotone (PeotoneHistoricalSociety.org)
The Peotone Windmill, formerly known as the H.A. Rathje Mill, was built in 1872. It is listed on the Will County Register of Historic Places. The windmill is a full-sized, five-story, German-style mill and today serves as an interpretive center for early pioneer agriculture. The mill is open for free tours from May to October. Visitors can explore the five-story building and its antique mill artifacts, along with the second-floor museum that displays memorabilia from the Village of Peotone.