Discover Belvidere

Belvidere brings together several specific points of interest for a trip: wall art, parks, ice-skating lessons, and architectural history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Belvidere, these interests can help you get a sense of the city as a travel destination. The sites have different focuses—from the murals along State Street to the canoe launch and ice arena.

Wall Art with a Story of Its Own

In Belvidere, the City of Murals extends along both sides of State Street, from Hurlbut Street eastward to Logan Avenue. This gives the art a specific geographic setting. The project began in June 1997 with ten murals in downtown Belvidere. They were created during a festival initiated by the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce. The City of Murals therefore has both a clearly defined location and a specific historical starting point.

Parks for Different Interests

General Mills Park has a playground, a soccer field, and an open shelter with picnic tables. Bob’s Park has two playgrounds: one for children ages 2 to 5 and another for children ages 5 to 12. Red Horse Bend Park & Canoe Launch has a publicly accessible canoe launch. To help you choose, consider the differences: at Bob’s Park, the playgrounds are divided by age group, while General Mills Park has additional specific amenities, including a soccer field and picnic tables; the canoe launch offers a different focus.

Ice Skating Near Downtown

Riverside Ice Arena is located in Doty Park near downtown Belvidere and offers ice-skating lessons for all ages. If ice-skating lessons are an important reason for your trip, the arena offers a distinct point of interest when choosing a destination. Its location in Doty Park near downtown also helps you place this interest within Belvidere.

Architecture and Historic Walking Tours

The Pettit Memorial Chapel in Belvidere Cemetery was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1907. Brochures are available for self-guided historic walking tours. The architect and year of construction offer a specific starting point for exploring the chapel’s architectural history. If you plan to visit, check access information before you arrive.

History in Boone County

In the wider Boone County area, the Boone County Museum of History fosters interest in the county’s history through education and research, as well as the preservation of artifacts and archival materials. This regional historical perspective complements the architectural history of individual sites with a view of Boone County as a whole.

Comparing the Art Project and Architectural History

The dates offer a specific comparison: the Murals project began in 1997 during a festival, while the Pettit Memorial Chapel was built in 1907. This places the launch of a mural project alongside the architectural history of a single building. For those interested in art history, this raises different questions—about the festival as the starting point for the mural initiative and about the chapel’s architecture.

Explore more destinations: Garden Prairie, Poplar Grove.

For the wider travel overview: Boone County.