Road trip to IL/TN

[Kevin (FL)]

We'll be in the Chicago-Wheaton area next week. Any good things to see related to old iron? Also planning to stop in the Pigeon Forge, TN area on the way back south--same question...

 

[caterpillar guy]

The Museum Of Science & Industry in Chicago There must be something in Peoria about Caterpillar besides the empty plant. International Harvester was started in the Chicago area as McCormick and later the Deering was added. Don't know what is left if any of these yet.

 

[Kevin (FL)]

Thanks for the info. I plan to take my son to the museum---looks like a lot of things to see.

 

[LeRoy DeLong]

You might think about going to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg museum in Auburn, In. and they have a War Bird Airplane museum, a National Automotive & Truck museum and Victory museum which is about WWII stuff. They are great museum's here in Auburn and they have a Windmill museum about 10 mile away in Kendallville, In. which is good. Location is in Northeast Indiana
LeRoy

 

[Kevin (FL)]

That sounds good too but we won't be getting over that way. Wish I had known about that a few years ago as we used to stay in Ft Wayne sometimes on our road trips over to PA/NY. Also dropped our gooseneck sometimes at a fellow's place who lives a little south of Ft. Wayne--he has Allis Chalmers stuff and sell parts too.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Cantigney (sp?) is a little west of Wheaton on Roosevelt road(rt38). IIRC, Its McCormacks old house. Maybe not for old iron but I do know they have military stuff there. Its been many, many years since I've last visited. It was a nice place.

Thoe old graue mill is a bit east of Wheaton.
Sorry, don't remember much more than that.

A bit north, maybe an hour or so, is the Volo auto museum. I've not been there, but I've heard good things.

A bit north and west, in Union, is the train museum. Again, never been there, heard good things.

The McHenry county fair starts August 1st. Its in Woodstock.

Now, if you were fishing, this post wouldn't be this short(big grin).

Have a fun, safe trip.

 

[Doug in IL]

There is nothing much left in Peoria. I wouldn't drive 10 feet out of my way to go there. Since all the good jobs left the area in the early 80's, it's pretty much become a haven for crack houses and drug dealers. It's a town of 100,000 people that is averaging 2 or 3 murders a week anymore.

 

[John (C-IL)]

Doug, you must be seeing a different Peoria than I am. Granted there has been a change in the manufacturing community, but Caterpillar is still king and all of the allied industries make Peoria and the surrounding communities a model of modern industrialization.

 

[Eric SEI]

If you're coming up I-65 you might find "The Museum at Prophetstown" interesting. It is at Battlefield,IN and it is a recreated 1920's era farm with both horses and tractors. There is also a recreated prairie plus an indian village (work in progress) near the site of Prophetstown.

Prophetstown State Park
http://www.prophetstown.org/

 

[Anonymous-0]

you might want to try garfield farm museum. they are west of randall road on il rt 38.
they have an antique tool day coming up aug 5.
they have 630-584-8485 phone listed for info.
i think their web site is garfieldfarm.com
mrs 730 and i went there about 5 years ago for their heritage livestock day in spring

 

[Doug in IL]

Yes, I'm old enough to remember the booming, vibrant, busy, comfortable Peoria of the 60's and 70's! Cat isn't 1/10th of what is was then. Pabst is gone. Hiram Walker is gone. Wabco is gone. Keystone is all but gone. Smaller outfits like Bemis and Rohn's-gone. Are the Stockyards still there? Peoria is basically 2 mega hospitals, a shadow of the former Caterpillar and a bunch of run down residential areas. Look at the East Bluff!

 

[Bill-KCKs]

I'll add a second to the Illinois Railroad Museum in Union, IL. Worth the visit if you're in the area. You need to be there on a weekend for steam or diesel trains to be running, but their electric cars run daily.
Illinois Railway Museum

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't know how far west in Illinois you're willing to go, but the 3, 4, and 5th of August is an antique equipment show in Franklin Grove. It's not a huge show, but we've got character ; ) It's about 2 hours west of the suburbs, just off I-88. Matter-of-fact, the show grounds are right next to 88. If you're passing through, it'll be on the north side of 88 between Dixon and Rochelle.

 

[Pooh Bear]

If you are going to Pigeon Forge, then drive on over to Gatlinburg,
then drive across the mountain to Cherokee, NC. Lots of stuff to see and
do in Gatlinburg. Over at Cherokee is the old homestead farm.
Going across the mountain you could stop at Clingman's Dome.

The annual 450 mile HWY 127 Yard Sale is next week (officially next weekend).
Gonna be extremely heavy traffic on 127 next week.
http://www.127sale.com/

What route are you taking. We could point you to stuff along the way.

Pooh Bear

http://www.travel.org/tennesse.html
http://www.chattanoogafun.com/attractions/
Coke Ovens Museum http://www.cokeovens.com/
TN Valley Railroad Museum http://www.tvrail.com/
Unto These Hills http://www.cherokee-nc.com/unto_these_intro.php
Clingman's Dome http://www.clingmansdome.com/
Gatlinburg http://www.mygatlinburgvacation.com/
Pigeon Forge http://www.smokyvacations.com/
Cherokee NC http://www.aboutcherokee.com/
Homestead Farm http://www.aboutcherokee.com/farm-museum.html