Bishop Hill State Historic Site facts for kids
Bishop Hill State Historic Site is a cool outdoor museum in Illinois! It's in Henry County, near a small town called Bishop Hill. This special place helps us learn about a unique group of people who lived here a long time ago.
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of four old buildings in the village. These buildings are part of the Bishop Hill Historic District, which is a very important historical area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1984.
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Discover Bishop Hill State Historic Site
A Special Community from Sweden
Bishop Hill was started in 1846 by a group of Swedish people. They were led by a man named Eric Janson. These settlers wanted to create a perfect religious community where everyone worked together and shared everything. They were very skilled, with many carpenters and craftspeople among them.
What You Can See Today
When you visit Bishop Hill, you can explore several historic buildings. These buildings show what life was like for the people who lived here long ago.
The Colony Church
The Colony Church was built in 1848. It's a two-story building with a classic Greek Revival style. Part of this church was once used as small apartments where the colony residents lived. Today, it has a museum inside. You can see old tools and items that show how the people of Bishop Hill lived and worked.
The Colony Hotel
The Colony Hotel was built between 1852 and 1860. It's a large, three-story building made of brick with a stucco finish. Imagine how busy this hotel must have been when the community was thriving!
The Boys Dormitory
You can also see the small, two-story Boys Dormitory, built around 1850. This was likely where some of the boys in the community lived and studied.
The Colony Barn
The Colony barn was built in the mid-1850s. It was moved behind the hotel to where the original hotel stable used to be. Barns were very important for farming communities like Bishop Hill.
The Village Park and Art Museum
The state also owns the village park. It has a nice gazebo and memorials that honor the town's first settlers and soldiers from the Civil War. There's also a museum building that displays amazing early American paintings. These paintings were created by a colonist and folk artist named Olof Krans. His art helps us understand the daily life and spirit of the Bishop Hill community.
