Knox County: History, Nature and Recreation

Knox County offers travelers a variety of points of interest: railroad history, historic sites, natural areas and recreational activities. Galesburg brings together several notable cultural and recreational destinations; Snakeden Hollow offers a vast waterside landscape, while the annual Knox County Scenic Drive highlights the rural heritage of Western Illinois.

Culture and History

The Carl Sandburg State Historic Site preserves a three-room workers’ cottage, where original family belongings are on display. It is the birthplace of Carl Sandburg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Lincoln biographer. For travelers interested in literature and biographies, the site connects a tangible building with Sandburg’s life story.

In Galesburg, the Galesburg Railroad Museum preserves artifacts and historical documents related to the local railroad industry. Galesburg is also the designated home of the National Railroad Hall of Fame. The railroad theme thus ranges from preserved objects and documents to institutional recognition.

Knox County Historical Sites maintains the Old Knox County Courthouse, the Old Jail, the Sanburn Log Cabin and the Knox County Museum in Knoxville. The Knox County Scenic Drive offers a different focus: As an annual fall event, it celebrates the rural heritage of Western Illinois and opens historic one-room schoolhouses, a log cabin, a jail, a barn and the Old Knox County Courthouse to visitors. Demonstrations include rug weaving, butter churning, blacksmithing, broom and basket making, and pumpkin carving; the specific demonstrations offered may vary. Check the event dates and program before your trip.

Landscape and Activities

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area covers 2,497 acres and is located in Knox County, one mile southeast of Victoria. More than 300 acres consist of lakes and ponds; more than three dozen bodies of water are actively managed for fishing. Seasonal rules may apply. Public access parking is available at County Road 15, Route 167 and County Road 28. Since access conditions may change depending on conditions at the site, check the information before your visit.

The 160-acre Snakeden Hollow Lake is a no-wake lake throughout, with no horsepower limit. If you are considering a boating trip, check the applicable rules in advance. Galesburg’s outdoor recreation also includes miles of wooded trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding. During the summer months, Lake Storey Beach in Galesburg offers a waterfront area for swimming and boating.

For traditional golf, Bunker Links Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-71 course in Lincoln Park on the northern edge of Galesburg, Illinois, in Knox County. Its facilities include a driving range and a large putting green. Operations may be seasonal; check whether the course is open during your travel dates. Lake Storey Disc Golf offers a different type of course: It measures 6,368 feet and has a par of 59. Wooded baskets, moderate elevation changes and a hole right by the water’s edge shape the round. Information about the length and course features may change; check current details before playing a round.

Arts, Food and Getting There

The Galesburg Community Arts Center offers opportunities to make art, arts education and events. Local food and drink destinations offer a range of experiences: The two-story Iron Spike Brewing Company is a brewery and restaurant in Galesburg. Its building is a historic firehouse that was in use from 1905 to 1970. Reserve Artisan Ales offers 30 self-pour drinks in a taproom bus, including beer, wine and nonalcoholic old-fashioned sodas.

Two specific points of reference are given for traveling to Galesburg: The city is located directly on Interstate 74 and is served by eight Amtrak trains daily, four eastbound and four westbound. Since train frequency may change, check the current schedule for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Galesburg, Monroe County, De Witt, Wayne County, Fayette County, Mercer County, Peoria, Champaign.

For the main travel overview: Illinois.