Bureau County

Bureau offers a slice of real Americana. It's the place to be if you are looking for an escape to a simpler time. Whether touring an Underground Railroad site, strolling through unique shops, or enjoying a professional theatre performance, Bureau County and its seat, Princeton, have many sites and experiences you won't want to miss.  Bureau County is located just 1 hour north of Peoria, 2 hours west of Chicago, and 1 hour east of the Quad Cities on Interstate 80. Don't want to drive? The Amtrak station in Princeton is an affordable mode of transportation and also allows riders to bring golf bags and bicycles aboard.

 A must-stop for theatre lovers is Festival 56, the state of Illinois' largest professional theatre festival. Each season, Festival 56 assembles from across the country a team of the most creative and talented artists living and working in professional theatre today. The festival presents a wide spectrum of programming, from free productions of Shakespeare in the park to classic and world premier musicals. Productions include classic masterworks of playwrights such as Steinbeck, Ibsen and Tennessee Williams.

If you're a history buff, be sure to stop by the Owen Lovejoy Homestead, a former Station on the Underground Railroad. The Lovejoy Homestead is located at the eastern edge of Princeton, Illinois. Reverend Lovejoy was its most famous resident and occupied the house from 1838 until his death in 1864.  Lovejoy was prominent in the abolition movement and the Underground Railroad, a founder of the Illinois and national Republican Party, and a congressional leader. Also located on the Lovejoy Homestead property is the one room Colton Schoolhouse.  It was moved from its original location 2.5 miles east to the Homestead in 1971. Another historical sight is Bureau County's Red Covered Bridge located north of Princeton on Rte. 26. Built in 1863, it is one of three remaining covered bridges in Illinois and is still open to traffic.

For a unique place to stay in Bureau County, try Chestnut Street Inn. It's an award winning bed and breakfast with a restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine using locally available ingredients. A distinctive shopping stop is Hornbaker Gardens. Hornbaker Gardens is a family owned and operated nursery specializing in perennial flowers. Large collections of hostas, daylilies, iris and other perennials draw plant enthusiasts from all over the Midwest. Between the towns of Princeton, Sheffield, Wyanet and La Moille, antique lovers will make several great finds at the malls and shops throughout the area. Princeton's Main Street is lined with unique shops offering everything from handcrafted gifts and custom-scented soaps to Victorian gifts and inviting tearooms filled with treasures.

Point your wheels toward Bureau County, Illinois to enjoy a multitude of colors, mild temperatures, and small crowds. Discover the reason so many people are drawn to travel Bureau County- it's a site of simple pleasures and national treasures.