Exploring the Ohio River Area of Southern Illinois

We arrived at Mark and Betty's at 8:00 a.m. ready for a full day of exploring.  It was a beautiful day to drive the backroads of this part of the state. 

A white heron fishing for its breakfast.

Our site is B-1.

 Our first stop was Old Shawneetown.  We explored the city which was the first city in Illinois.  It was a thriving community until 1837 when the Ohio River flooded and made the city unlivable.  Most of the businesses and residents moved further up from the banks of the Ohio River.   

This was one of three banks in Old Shawneetown.  This building would inspire confidence that your money was safe.

Mark, Betty, and I.

From Old Shawneetown, we drove to Garden of Gods.

This rock formation has been photographed millions of time.  Can you see a camel in the formation?  

Betty and Mark.  Mark took a picture of Carol and I but the "cloud": isn't cooperating tonight so that picture will remain unposted.

Next stop was Cave in Rock.  We ate a tasty picnic lunch and then took a short hike to the cave.  This is Betty and Mark inside the cave.

Mark looking from inside the cave to the opening

From Cave in Rock we drove to Elizabethtown.  It was a quaint little town on the banks of the Ohio River.  This church is the oldest church in Illinois.  It is a Southern Baptist Church.  As we were taking pictures, a member came by and offered to open the church so we could see the inside and she sent the pastor talk to us.  He is only 30 years old but had a vision for the church.  His name was Christian McKenzie.  In talking with him, we learned that he was in the First Baptist Church of Cadiz, Kentucky, where a former pastor of FBC MTZ was pastoring.  His name was Kevin and Roberts.  It is a small world.  He shared projects that the church was focusing on.  It sounds like he does not have a day to himself and his wife and two young children.

This is an original chandelier that had originally used candles for light.  There is also a pulpit that has been in the church since its founding.  Unfortunately, the cloud did not download that picture.  It was beautiful.  I thought it was very wise of the young pastor to realize the importance to the church that the pulpit was.

Next stop was Rosiclare.  This town was once known as the "Fluorspar Capitol  of the World."  Fluorspar mining began in 1842 and ceased when it became cheaper to import it from China.  At one time there were seven mines operating.  This statue was in a small park telling about Fluorspar.  The statue depicts a miner with his mining pick heading out to work with his wife handing his lunch bucket.

When mining was in full swing, these rail tracks ran through the middle of town from the mines to the Ohio River where the fluorspar was loaded onto barges.

Next stop was Golconda.  The city sets on the banks of the Ohio River were three locks once stood.  The Corps of Engineer built the locks which included this building.  This shape of this building became the symbol of the Corps Engineers and is commonly seen on anything that advertises the Corps.

Also at Golconda, 13,000 Cherokees crossed by ferry from Kentucky into Illinois on the "Trail of Tears."  They arrived in Golconda December 3, 1938.  The temperatures were freezing which the Cherokees were not used to.  Many died due to the temperatures and others were killed by locals.  From Golconda, the Cherokees were marched to Vienna where there was another monument honoring the Cherokees.

Our last stop was Metropolis, the home of Superman.  Here is Carol stepping into Superman's phone booth hoping to transform into Superman.

We visited a Superman museum which is anything "Superman."  All I brought was an ornament for my Christmas tree.  Several years as we are heading to Florida, we pass by Metropolis, see the signs for Superman, but never stop.  Today, we finally stopped.  It was a good stop.  The town has embraced Superman as their own.  This statue stands in front of the courthouse.

Home from the trip at 6:00.  Ate a delicious supper with Mark and Betty, talked a bit, and got back to camp about 8:30.  It was a long but interesting day.  We learned so much of the history of the towns in Southern Illinois.  My head is spinning.  A good nights sleep will be necessary to quiet my brain.  Tomorrow will be another history-filled day only this time, we will hear for the Mississippi River area.  Can't wait!!