Peoria Industry & Historical Tour

Rich in history, Peoria is a river city industrialized by the technological advances of manufacturing, transportation and agriculture.

DAY ONE

River City Tour - The Peoria Historical Society hosts this tour highlighting Peoria as you travel through the historic district, the city streets of downtown and up to Grandview Drive. (Admission)

Ronald Reagan Museum - Housed in the Donald B. Cerf Center at Eureka College, the collection now numbers over 10,000 items, with 3,000+ on display, from President Reagan's student days, his movie and television career, his eight years as governor of California and two terms as President of the United States.

Peoria Players Theatre - The city's first community theater has been in continuous operation since 1919 and is one of the oldest in America. (Admission)

DAY TWO

Wheel's O' Time Museum - Represents transportation, industry, farm and home life, as well as entertainment,
from times past. The museum, owned by 55 collectors, has a multitude of exhibits showing life 50 to 100 years ago and is open May through October. (Admission)

Peoria Journal Star Plant Tour - Peoria's largest newspaper offers one hour-long group tours of their printing facility. The tour includes mechanical, business and editorial aspects of the newspaper and gives a basic overview of publishing a newspaper from news gathering to finished product. (Admission)

Spirit of Peoria - This early 20th century-style paddle-wheeler is powered by two Caterpillar diesel engines. Lunch and Dinner cruises are available. Take in all the beautiful sights the Illinois River has to offer. (Admission)

Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences - The largest private downstate museum in Illinois. The museum features art and science exhibitions, Children's Discovery Center, Planetarium, Illinois Folk Art Gallery, Illinois River Decoy and Illinois Jacquard Coverlet exhibitions, the Museum Store and more! (Admission)

DAY THREE

John C. Flanagan House & Pettengill-Morron House - Enjoy a tour of homes cared for by the Peoria Historical Society. The John C. Flanagan House is an American Federalist-style home built in 1837. The home is the oldest standing residence in Peoria. The Pettengill-Morron House is a Mid-Victorian house built in 1868 by Moses Pettengill, a merchant from New Hampshire. Both houses are on the National Register for Historic Places. (Admission)

Jubliee College State Historic Site - Founded in 1840 by the first Episcopal bishop in Illinois as a seminary, this was the first college established in Illinois and has become the center of a year-round program of historic activities. (Admission)