Attractions
Sites
- Bandy's Pumpkin Patch
- Home of lots of fall fun located between Johnston City and Herrin. Corn maze, kids play area, wagon rides, and of course, pumpkins. Open during October. (618) 988-2050
- Location: Herrin
- Coal Miners Memorial
- Herrin
- Crab Orchard Lake
- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
- 618-997-3344
- Location: 8588 Route 148, Marion — Directions
- Website: http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/CrabOrchard/
- Devil's Kitchen Lake
- Doughboy Statue
- World War I memorial in Herrin.
- Elvis Museum
- Check out 1,000 pieces of Elvis memorabilia at the privately operated Elvis Museum at 520 Green St in Woodlawn, located 47 miles north of Marion. Open from noon to 4 p.m. on the first and last Sundays of the month. For more information call Clarence Skurat at 618-214-6287.
- Extreme Indoor Sports
- Extreme Bounce is a super fun place for kids ages 1 to 15 to come and play. Kids will enjoy 3 huge bouncers, 2 in-ground trampolines, an awesome jungle gym with a 12' ball pit and a 16 foot slide and a huge in-ground foam block pit with a cargo net and two Tarzan swings. On Friday and Saturday evenings and special no-school days, kids will also enjoy our awesome gymnastics facility, including four-in-ground trampolines, a bungee tramp, a traversing wall, another cool bouncer and much more. Extreme Bounce sessions run two hours. Kids are separated by age (1-8 & 9-15) and switch sides every 30 minutes. Cost per session is $7. Open Monday through Saturday. Call 997-3505 for more info and times. Also online at ExtremeIndoorSports.com. Located at 1109 N Railroad St. in Marion.
- Ferne Clyffe State Park
- Located south of Goreville, Illinois.
- Foreman Depot Museum
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Restored railroad depot from the early 1900 includes photographs of early Johnson County railroads.
Open Tuesday-Saturday 9-3 618-958-2063 - Location: City Park, Vienna IL
- Frankfort Area Historical Society Museum
- The Frankfort Area Historical Society Museum and research library is located in the old Logan School in Frankfort Heights. Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 618-932-6159
- Location: 2000 E St. Louis St, West Frankfort — Directions
- Franklin County Garage Museum
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1910 working garage with many original tools and equipment. Antique cars on display.
Open Monday-Friday 9-4
618-438-2121 - Location: 211 North Main Street, Benton, IL
- Franklin County Historic Jail Museum
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Exhibits include items and photographs of conviction and execution of 1920 gangster Charlie Birger, equipment from WFRX radio station, which play first Beatles record in the United States, exhibits on Gen. John A Logan and the Civil War, Olympic and NBA basketball star Doug Co9llins and more.
Open Monday-Saturday 9-12 and 1-4 618-439-0608 - Location: 209 West Main Street, Benton, IL
- Giant City State Park
- Located on the southwest side of Little Grassy Lake near Makanda, Illinois.
- Goddard Chapel
- Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this beautiful Bedford stone sanctuary is located in Marion's Rose Hill Cemetery. Built in 1918 by Leroy Goddard, the chapel has art glass windows and accommodates about 200 people.
- Harrison Home
- This is the home of David Ruffin Harrison, one of Herrin’s founders. Built in 1868, this was the first brick house in Herrin. Furniture from that period, including a grand piano made in 1874, is in the two-story home.
- Haunted Barn
- Plantation of the Dead. Expect a fright. Haunted house open during the month of October in Marion. http://www.thehauntedbarn.net
- Herrin Civic Center
- The centerpiece of downtown Herrin, this modern facility is a multi-purpose building with an auditorium, conference rooms and a catering kitchen. Programs and events include a children’s performing arts program, a patron series, gospel shows, concerts, meetings and social gatherings. A list of events is available.
- Jackson County Historical Society
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Meeting held second Monday of month at 7pm
Research library and Jackson County records and research services are available Wednesday-Friday 12-3 and
Thursday evening 6:30-9 618-684-6989 - Location: 1616 Edith Street, Murphysboro, IL
- John A. Logan Statues
- John A. Logan College is home to not one, but two statues of Southern Illinois' most gallant Civil War general. An equestrian statue craved from wood greets visitors outside the main entrance and a bronze statue stands guard in the inner courtyard near the conference center.
- Lake of Egypt
- Located south of Marion with 2300 acres impounded, 93 miles of shoreline; three full service marinas and supplies; boat launch fee; largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, hybrid stripers, abundant crappie.
- Location: Marion — Directions
- Little Egypt Arts Centre
- Largest cooperative art center in Southern Illinois. Located on the west side of the Tower Square in Marion. Open usually between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but call in advance to make sure. The number is 618-998-8530.
- Little Egypt Off-Road
- Little Egypt Off Road now offers more than 700 acres of trails and roads for off-road ATV and motorcycle enjoyment. Includes 60 acres of open fields, 1.5 miles of practice BMX track, concessions, multiple scramble courses, family trails, indoor restrooms and apparel. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. and during the week by appointment for parties of 10 or more. (618) 982-2992
- Location: Marion
- Website: http://www.leormc.com
- Little Grassy Lake
- Logan Museum
- Exhibit on "John A Logan, His Life and Times" will be on display until May 2008! Museum is opened Tuesday-Sunday 1-4pm 618-684-3455
- Location: 1613 Edith Street, Murphysboro, IL
- Marion Cultural & Civic Center
- Performing arts center at 800 Tower Square Plaza in Marion.
- Miners Ball Field
- New $15 million home of the Southern Illinois Miners at Marion up on The Hill. Home game begin May 29, 2007.
- O'Neal Theater
- Stage performance site at John A. Logan College in Carterville.
- Odum Stables
- Offer private lessons on gaited horses, indoor and outdoor facilities, lessons for all ages and skill levels and lesson packages available. Beginners, refreshers, pleasure or show. Home of several world champion walking horses. Call 618-996-2943 or 618-889-6703 for reservations. Located at 16862 Boundary Rd just off of Route 166 north of Creal Springs.
- Olde Squat Inn
- Located northeast of Marion in Pittsburg. Three original log cabins built in the 1800's now serve as a quaint bed and breakfast.
- Park Ave. Players Performing Arts Center
- Home base for the Park Avenue Players in Herrin at 321 N 13th St. Programs for children throughout the region. On the web at www.parkavenueplayers.itgo.com. or e-mail parkavenueplayers@yahoo.com.
- Perry County Jail Museum
- Location: 108 West Jackson Street
- Powell Museum and Research Center
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The museum includes photographs and artifacts of the political career of Paul Powell.
Museum open Friday-Saturday 1-4
Research Center open Saturday 10-12 618-771-6877 - Location: Vine Street, Venna, IL
- Ridgway Museum
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World War 1 exhibit and Ridgway memorabilia and artifacts. Hannah Naaf plays harp.
Open Saturday 10-2 618-272-7157 - Location: Corner of Murphy and Main Street, Ridgway, IL
- Shawnee National Forest
- Southern Illinois Raceway
- Twenty-eight nights of outlaw micro sprint racing every Saturday beginning April 7 and running through October 13. Hot laps 6 p.m. Races begin at 7 p.m. Admission $5 for adults, discounted tickets for kids. Call 618-997-5560 or 618-925-0520 for more info, or e-mail Racing Promoter Richard Poe at poman43@aol.com. Located at 9365 Foyt Rd off of Route 13 about five miles east of Marion just before Crab Orchard. Online at www.siraceway.net
- Southern Illinois Wine Trail
- Six wineries east of Interstate 57 make up the Southern Illinois Wine Trail - Flint Hill Winery in Muddy, Bella Terra and Winey Hills Wineries south of Creal Springs near Tunnel Hill, Hogg Hollow Winery near Glendale in Pope County, Shawnee Winery in Vienna and Cache River Basin Winery near Heron Pond and Belknap.
- Website: http://www.southernillinoiswinetrail.net
- Tunnel Hill State Trail
- State bicycle trail from Harrisburg to Karnak runs through southeastern Williamson County near Stonefort. Find more info at the Department of Natural Resources website.
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Built in 1914, this landmark has been serving veterans for 50 years. A beautiful tree-lined drive welcomes visitors to the center, which features an Egyptian architectural motif. Located in Marion.
- West Franklin Historical District and Genealogy Society
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Exhibits include artifacts from military, farming, coal mining, one-room schoolhouse, railroad: browse through the books in the genealogy library.
Open Tuesday and Saturday 9-3 - Location: Former Mulkeyton School, Mulkeytown, IL
- Williamson County Fairgrounds
- Home of the Williamson County Fair in August and a number of other events during the year. Located on East Main Street in Marion.
- Williamson County Museum
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Located in an historic brick building in Marion, the museum features artifacts, antiques, and records of a bygone era. Seventeen rooms contain exhibits, including an old-fashioned schoolroom. Tours also may be arranged through the Marion Chamber of Commerce.
Open every Thursday, 9-3 and every third Thursday 9-8. 618-997-5863 - Location: 105 South Van Buren Street, Marion, IL
- World Shooting & Recreation Complex
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Covering 1,600 acres with 120 trap fields and extending 3.5 miles, the complex also hosts two sporting clay courses, a Cowboy Action shooting corral, 1,000 RV campsites with hookups and many other features available to the public. The ATA Grand American trap shooting tournament draws nearly 6,000 shooters every August. Located near Sparta, Illinois. Call 217-782-5706 or 866-850-2564 for more information, or go online at dnr.state.il.us/worldshooting
