Edgar: Cultural History, Parks, and Nature

Baber Woods, a nature preserve, is located in Edgar County. Paris, Illinois, offers a different focus: historic buildings, parks, Paris East Lake, and cultural attractions.

History and Culture in Paris

The Edgar County Historical Society House, Museum and Annex focuses on the county’s history, culture, art, architecture, and transportation history. It is open Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Other opening hours are available by appointment only. If you would like to visit outside these hours, arrange your visit in advance.

Several historic buildings have their own distinctive character. The Paris Carnegie Public Library has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2002, and the Shaw–Van Gilder House since 2007. The Edgar County Courthouse in Paris is a brick and stone building dating from 1893 and is also listed on the Register. Its four-sided clock tower rises 150 feet. Markers about the history of Edgar County stand in the town square around the courthouse.

Samuel Vance Park commemorates the founder of Paris: Samuel Vance founded the city in 1823. The park is located on the site of the original town hall. Gas lamps, a lion-head fountain, a sunken garden, benches, and a curved wall are among its features. The Edgar County Historical Complex is also home to the historic Arthur House, built by Henry Clay Moss.

The Paris Arts Center is also associated with a historic building: it is housed in the Alexander House, built in 1812. Abraham Lincoln visited the house when he was working as a lawyer for the family. During separate visits to Paris, Lincoln and Stephen Douglas also gave speeches at Edgar County’s second courthouse. A veterans’ memorial in Kiwanis Memorial Park honors soldiers who died in World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

Lakes, Parks, and Time Outdoors

Paris East Lake is a 163-acre reservoir connected to Paris West Lake. Fishing is available for largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, saugeye, and hybrid striped bass. The lake’s main boat ramp is on Lakeside Terrace Drive. East Lake Park is south of the boat ramp and has a swimming beach, playground, and pavilion.

Sunrise Park has playground equipment, a baseball field, a basketball court, picnic facilities, and a children’s splash pool. The park’s landscape also includes unusual trees, including a serviceberry tree and a fringe tree. Blackhawk Park is a fishing and scouting area with scenic trails and natural walking paths. Schwartz Park includes a one-acre wooded area; its features include a pavilion, gardens, and a winding brick path.

Twin Lakes Park is the city’s oldest and principal recreation center; its development began in 1895. The parks described here have different focuses: East Lake centers on the water, fishing, and swimming beach, while Blackhawk and Schwartz offer trails through their grounds.

Events and Theater

The Honeybee Festival takes place annually in Paris in the fall, on the fourth weekend in September. Check the dates for your travel year if you would like to plan your stay around the festival.

The Paris Center of Fine Arts is a community-supported, nonprofit professional theater on the Paris High School campus. It is on Illinois Highway 1 north of the city, a short drive from Interstates 70 and 57. The Paris Community Theater is an amateur theater group in the Paris area. Paris is also home to the Allis Chalmers Museum, which displays a private collection of Allis-Chalmers tractor models from 1914 to 1957.

Discover more destinations: Paris, Mason County, Adams, Clinton County, Marion County, St. Clair, Marshall County, Lee County

For the main travel overview: Illinois.