5 Amazing National Parks in Illinois offer Family Fun

Did you know there are 5 national parks in Illinois that can teach you kids about American history, have FREE learning resources and offer family fun as you explore together? We’ve put together a list to help you make the most out of these sites whether you decide to visit in person or online.

Fun National Parks in Illinois

Our national parks in Illinois actually includes three national historic trails, a national historic park and a national historic site. These National Park Service sites are hidden gems that will provide your family with a mix of history, nature in the great outdoors, and cultural heritage learning experiences.

We’ve included a list of the best places to see on the different trails and sites, as well as links to free educational resources for your homeschool. You’ll find information on the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Mormon Pioneer Trail, the Trail of Tears, the Pullman, as well as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.

1. Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail connects a total of 16 states: Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia.

This historic trail commemorates the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 and follows the historic outland and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It winds through 16 states and nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations.

Visitor Centers and Museums in Illinois

There are 5 visitor centers and museums located along the trail in Illinois that make for an amazing learning experience for you and your children.

Lewis & Clark State Historic Site (Camp Dubois)

Located in Hartford, Illinois, this 14,000 square foot visitor center tells the story of the Camp River Dubois and the newly formed Corps of Discovery of the Illinois portion of the Expedition.

There are six galleries to learn about the preparation phase of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Take a look at the 55 foot, full scale cut-away keelboat that shows how the men handled packing the goods and supplies. There is also a small replica fort, which will give your children an idea of what the frontier life was for the military Corps.

Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower

Located in Hartford, Illinois, next door to Camp Dubois, is a 150 foot tall tower monument that was built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

There are observation decks at the 50, 100 and 150 foot marks on the tower with different exhibits that focus on Lewis and Clark and the Missouri-Mississippi Confluence. Take a guided tour that ends with a trip to the highest level of the structure where you can see the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

Chester Welcome Center

The Chester Welcome Center is located near the Chester Bridge on a bluff above the Mississippi River in Chester, Illinois. There is a Lewis and Clark marker with history about their discovery.

The welcome center has an amazing view of the river and bridge. Learn about local attractions, and take a break to learn about the history of the Corps of Discovery while you are on the trail.

Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site

The Cahokia Courthouse is located in Cahokia, Illinois. It was the winter headquarters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803-1804.

This is the oldest courthouse building in Illinois with exhibit rooms that depict cases the court handled around 1800 and the French-roots of the structure. You can view the exhibits and refurbished courtroom on your own, or take a guided tour.

Cairo Custom House Museum

Located in Cairo, Illinois, this building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cairo Custom House was originally used as the location for collecting tariffs on imports being traded along the Mississippi River.

There are exhibits that include many Civil War-era related pieces, a replica of the U.S.S. Cairo gunboat and exhibits of local historical pieces and information about the Custom House itself. Walk around the museum grounds to see historic cannons and a limestone markers of historic figures from the Corps

Homeschool Learning on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The ​National Park Service sites always have lots of educational resources that you can use in your homeschool to enhance what you are learning. These are great supplements and resources to unit studies about Lewis and Clark!

Lewis and Clark Trail Jr. Ranger Program 

There are 30 locations along the Lewis and Clark Trail offering the opportunity to become a Junior Ranger. Camp Dubois is the only location in Illinois to pick up the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Junior Ranger booklet in person.

The national parks in Illinois, like a lot of the parks in they system, does offer some fun options for online learning including an Online Junior Ranger Lewis and Clark program.

Lewis and Clark Trail for Kids Website

There is also The Lewis and Clark Trail for Kids webpage which has:

Lewis and Clark Trail Educator Resources

Visit the Educator Resources Page for lesson plans to teach your kids about the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

2. Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail is a part of the national parks in Illinois but the trail goes beyond it’s borders to include Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah as well. This trail commemorates the journey of thousands of Latter-day Saint pioneers from Illinois to Utah between 1846 and 1847.

In Illinois, the trail begins in Nauvoo, where the Mormon community once thrived before being forced to leave due to persecution. The trail is marked by historical sites and interpretive exhibits that highlight the challenges of these early travelers.

Things to Do:

• Take an auto drive tour
• Visit interpretive sites and museums
• Hiking
• Camping
• Horseback riding
• Biking Trails
• Picnic Areas

Become a Trail Junior Ranger – Your kids can print the booklet out and complete it at home and mail it back for a badge!

Interactive Map of the Trail

Find places you can visit on the trail with this interactive map. Zoom in to find a location and click on the green square of your choice to learn more about a specific site. You can find museums, interpretive centers, and historic sites that provide information for the trail.

Passport Stamp Map

This interactive passport stamp map will show you all the places along the map where you can get your National Park Passport stamped.

Zoom in to find a location on the map and click on the yellow balloons to see the site name, address, access, image, and website. At this time, there is only one of the national parks in Illinois offering the stamp – Nauvoo National Historic Landmark.

Historic Sites to visit on the Mormon Pioneer National Trail in Illinois

Nauvoo National Historic Landmark

Located in Nauvoo, Illinois at the end of Parley Street is a boat launch for the Mississippi River. This is the site that Joseph Smith and his followers landed to find refuge in Illinois. A new settlement was established on the banks for the  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This town was named Nauvoo, which comes from a Hebrew word meaning beautiful place. This site incudes 1,100 acres of authentically restored homes and shops, including Brigham Young’s home that you can visit. The historic district in the town of Nauvoo contains streets, restored historic building, shops, and a visitor center.

Carthage Jail

Located in Cathage, Illinois sits a restored jail house. This is the site where the killing of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, at the hands of an armed mob happened in June of 1844.

You can take a guided tour of the jail house and the visitor center and learn why it is the site of the most pivotal events in the history of Mormon Pioneer Trail.

3. Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail connects parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. It commemorates and follows the routes taken by the Cherokee Indian people who were forcefully removed from their lands.

Historic Sites on the Trail of Tears in Illinois

There are 4 historic sites that you can visit along the Trail of Tears in the state of Illinois.

• Hamburg Hill – The trail on Hamburg Hill follows a remnant of the road traveled by Cherokee detachments during the forced removal of 1838-1839. You can retrace a one mile segment of trail swale, hiking through this deep road-cut.
• Golconda, Illinois – This is the location that the Cherokees crossed the Ohio River into Illinois between November, 1838, and January, 1839, on the Trail of Tears.
• McCorkle Creek – Located on the east side of Vienna, Illinois, it was at this location on December 26, 1838, that the detachment that Reverend Butrick was travelling with that they learned of the ice on the Mississippi River.
• Campground Church – Located in Anna, Illinois this site was a well-known camping spot due to the nearby springs. During removal, thousands of Cherokee camped here on their trek west.

Free Homeschool Resources for Learning about the Trail of Tears

There are many free resources that are great to teach about the Trail of Tears in your homeschool.

Interactive Trail Map

Explore this interactive trail map with your kids and zoom in to find museums, interpretive centers, and historic sites that you can find along the trail.

Trail of Tears Lesson Plans

There are lesson plans and educational resources that you can use in your homeschool that are all free!

Pathways and Perspectives Lesson Plan

Discover the Trail of Tears Lightning Lesson

Trail of Tears Social Studies Lesson Plan

Trail of Tears Activity Booklets for Students

Trail Junior Ranger Program

Become a Trail Junior Ranger with this free program. Learn about the journey of the Cherokee Indians while completing the booklet. You can turn this in at any site along the trail, or mail it to receive a badge in the mail.

4. Pullman National Historic Park

Pullman National Historic Park is located in Chicago, Illinois. This national historic park preserves the story of the first model industrial town in the United States, built by George Pullman of the Pullman Company in the 1880s.

Things to Do and Places to Visit

There are so many things to do for visitors of all ages to learn about the industrial age in American history with exhibits and the Pullman National Monument.

• Administration-Clock Tower Building Pullman Visitor Center
• Pullman Exhibit Hall
• National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
• Pullman House Project
• Hotel Florence
• Greenstone United Methodist Church
• Market Hall
• Historic Pullman Workers Homes
• Arcade Park
• Pullman Firehouse
• Historic Pullman Wheelworks

Pullman Summer Explorers

Pullman Summer Explorers is a free 3 day program for summer of 2024, exclusively for fourth grade students to explore the historic buildings and learn outdoor skills in the Chicagoland area.

5. Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Last but not least on our list of national parks in Illinois is The Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this historic site preserves the home where Abraham Lincoln lived with his family from 1844 until he became the 16th president of the United States in 1861.

Things to Do:

• Lincoln Home Tour – Take a guided tour of the Lincoln Home to learn about the Lincoln family and Abraham Lincoln’s family life.
• Living History Demonstrations – Throughout the year at different times, are living history demonstrations that portray actors in period accurate clothing demonstrating skills of the late 1800s.
• Watch films about Lincoln and the Lincoln Home.

Free Lincoln Home National Historic Site Homeschool Resources

These Lincoln Home National Historic Site resources can be a great addition to your study of Abraham Lincoln in your homeschool lessons.

Junior Ranger Program

The Junior Ranger Program is available to download and print out for your kids to complete at home. There is even an Abraham Lincoln drawing contest they can enter. Mail back your completed package to receive a junior ranger badge in the mail!

The Illinois Freedom Project

The Illinois Freedom Project is a web based multi-media educational project designed to teach youth about the story of slavery to the freedom and civil rights movement.  The goal of the project is to teach history, but also to inspire youth by presenting stories of victory through adversity.

Lincoln Home Virtual Tour

Take a virtual tour of the Lincoln Home from the comforts of your own home. Tour the different rooms and virtually learn about the life of Lincoln and where he lived with his family before becoming president.

Lincoln Home Curriculum Materials

The Curriculum Materials page includes free printable and downloadable resources to teach your children about the life of Lincoln. Topics include:

• Life of Abraham Lincoln Lesson Plan
• The Life of Mary Lincoln Lesson Plan
• Lincoln Home Virtual Museum Exhibit
• Journey to Greatness: Character Lessons from the Past

Final Thoughts

National parks in Illinois offer so many free resources to enjoy learning about history together as a family. We hope you’ll take advantage of all they have to offer. If you’re looking for even more history or national park resources then be sure to read the articles below.