Northern and northwestern Illinois are well represented among the ten most scenic locations in the state. The results are in from the latest voting by state residents during the Illinois Bicentennial celebration.
Coming in second in the top ten from voting during the past two weeks is the Great River Road - the route along the Mississippi River from Galena to Cairo, featuring old river towns, bluffs, farm fields, and historic sites.
- Third on the list is the Black Hawk Statue, perched on a bluff overlooking the Rock River in Ogle County.
- Starved Rock State Park near Utica in LaSalle County took 5th place, followed by Galena and its historic downtown in 6th place.
Number one on the list of Illinois' most scenic locations is the village of Elsah, near Alton. The Garden of the Gods, Chicago Lakefront, and Giant City State also made the top ten.
Every two weeks during the Illinois Bicentennial celebration, the Illinois Top 200 project asks state residents to vote on their favorites. By the state’s 200th birthday on December 3rd, voters will have chosen 10 favorites in 20 different categories - the Illinois Top 200
Voting in the next category, top museums, is now underway at www.IllinoisTop200.com. Nominees include Chicago’s Field Museum, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and Mount Vernon’s Cedarhurst Center for the Arts.
Future categories include authors, musicians, actors, leaders, and unforgettable moments.
