Illinois River
Towns Quad Cities North Shore and South Dakota
Illinois and
Iowa
Champaign County is nearly
equidistant from Chicago, St Louis and Indianapolis; a thriving micro-urban
oasis supported by local agriculture, technology and research and home to the
University of Illinois.
The College of Agriculture,
Consumer and Environmental Science is a leader in crop science, bio-energy and animal science. Farmer-owned Grain Cooperatives in
America’s heartland and the Illinois grain belt; rich soils and modern farm
practices produce record yields of quality grains. Ethanol and distiller’s grain production. Research in soybeans,
from production to consumption, by the National
Soybeans Research Laboratory. The National
Center for Super Computing Applications, whose Blue Waters Supercomputer is
the largest and most powerful on a university campus and among the largest in
the world.
The River Towns of Illinois along the banks and bluffs of the Mississippi
River hug the western border of Illinois for 550 miles. Experience an Illinois
winery, brewery, farm, u-pick, or local farm to table restaurant. Four
Centuries of history and heritage and thousands of stories that recount
America's evolution while experiencing breathtaking views, majestic landscapes
and species that travel thousands of miles for a visit or to make themselves a
home.
The Quad Cities area consists of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and
Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The region has the excitement
of a big city and the hospitality of a small town with award-winning museums
and cultural centers, internationally-recognized festivals, beautiful
riverfronts and a vibrant nightlife.Davenport has beautiful riverfront vistas and an active downtown area with the Figge Art and Putnam History Museums and great shopping at the North Park Mall.
Bettendorf the Library and adjacent
Family Museum provide exciting programs and storytelling. The numerous outdoor
activities include the Splash Landing water park, Wallace's Garden Center and
Duck Creek Recreational Trail.
Rock Island downtown is known for its festivals and nightlife with Cajun food and zydeco music; Jamaican food and reggae music; and a fall Irish folk festival. Family activities include the country's largest go-kart street race.
Rock Island downtown is known for its festivals and nightlife with Cajun food and zydeco music; Jamaican food and reggae music; and a fall Irish folk festival. Family activities include the country's largest go-kart street race.
Experience a Downtown Architectural Tour
and the Broadway Historic District
Moline is one of the agricultural
capitals of the world, home of John Deere and steeped in history. The modern
downtown area features great riverfront views and evening entertainment with
musicals performed by local actors.
East Moline is home to many great events and festivities. Empire Park is right on the Mississippi River, walk along the riverfront trails of The Quarter or visit to the John Deere Harvester Works, one of the world's largest combine factories.
East Moline is home to many great events and festivities. Empire Park is right on the Mississippi River, walk along the riverfront trails of The Quarter or visit to the John Deere Harvester Works, one of the world's largest combine factories.
The North Shore Communities along Lake Michigan are minutes from Chicago’s city center: Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Skokie,
Wheeling and Winnekta.
South Dakota
Aberdeen South Dakota Before
the arrival of European settlers, the area was inhabited by the Sioux Indians.
The first group of Euro-American settlers to reach the area in the 1820s was a
party of four people, three horses, two mules, fifteen cattle, and two wagons.
This group of settlers was later joined by another group the following spring,
and eventually more settlers migrated toward this general area. Like many towns
of the Midwest, Aberdeen was built around the newly developing railroads.
Officially plotted as a town site on January 3, 1881 by the Milwaukee Road
which was presided over by Alexander Mitchell, who was born in Scotland, hence
the name Aberdeen. The town was officially founded on July 6, 1881, the date of
the first arrival of a Milwaukee Railroad train.
Aberdeen the
perfect family and business destination
The Dacotah Prairie Museum The idea for a community museum in
Aberdeen dates back almost 70 years. In 1938, John Murphy, a Northern State
College professor, and Marc Cleworth, a salesman, created the Northern South
Dakota History Museum which was housed in the Central building on Northern's
campus. The collection of this first museum grew rapidly through loans and
donations until by 1941, it had amassed a collection of over 500 items.
Rapid City is centrally located to visit the Black Hills, Mount
Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and the Badlands. Western and Native American Heritage
throughout the city you will find Native American history exhibits, fine arts
display, and interactive museums like the Journey Museum that takes you from
the formation of the Black Hills over 2.5 billion years-ago to the continuing
saga of the Western frontier.
