Illinois River and its Tributaries printed 1876 (Peoria, Walnut: yard, land, island)

[linicx]

This was the river before polution, and before the creeks dried. The river is still a deep channel shipping lane and Peoria Lake still exists.


The Illinois River and its Tributaries

[runninfiend]

Nice catch. The Illinois is really no longer a "river," but rather a shipping channel or ditch.

I'm partial to the Mackinaw River myself, having grown up around it. A few bits of trivia maybe you didn't know: It's the only waterway in the state classified "river" without a dam on it somewhere. Was referred to formerly as Apple River in several sources. Name comes from Ojibwa for "snapping turtle." You can still see a few of these along its shores.

The first printed mention of the river from a white explorer was from the journal of Patrick Kennedy as he searched for copper mines up the Illinois River. From August 6, 1773:

“At sunset we passed a river called Michilimackinac. It is on the south-eastern side of the Illinois River; is 50 yards wide, navigable for about 90 miles, and has between 30 and 40 small islands at its mouth; which at a distance appear like a small village.

On the banks of this river is plenty of good timber, viz. red and white cedar, pine, maple, walnut; and finding some pieces of coal, I was induced to walk up the river a few miles, though not far enough to reach a coal-mine…The land is high on the eastern bank of the river, but on the western are large plains or meadows extending as far as can be seen, covered with fine grass.”

There are literally hundreds of other smaller creeks and streams in the state that are gorgeous; hidden gems. A few of my favorites are Mill, Walnut Creek and Panther Creek (Woodford County), Sugar Creek (Menard County), Mauvaise Terre Creek (Morgan County), Bay Creek (Pike).

Maybe you have your own favorite.

[linicx]

Glad you liked it. You've a pretty good catch yourself. :-)