Chautauqua, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chautauqua
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Cottages near the entrance
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 Chautauqua
Location in Illinois
Chautauqua
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jersey |
| Township | Elsah |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Postal code |
62028
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| GNIS feature ID | 428371 |
Chautauqua is a special place in Jersey County, Illinois. It's also known as the New Piasa Chautauqua Historic District. This is a private summer resort that started over a hundred years ago. It began as a place where people lived in tents! The name Piasa comes from a nearby Native American painting of a mythical bird. This painting, called the Piasa Bird, is on the bluffs high above the Mississippi River.
Chautauqua is located between Elsah and Grafton. Today, you can reach it from the Great River Road (Illinois Route 100). For more than a century, it has been a private Christian summer resort for everyone.
Contents
A Look Back: Chautauqua's Story
How Chautauqua Began
Chautauqua was started in 1885 by Methodist leaders. It quickly became popular. Thousands of people came from the St. Louis area and other parts of Illinois. They arrived by boat, and later by car or train. Trains ran by as often as six times a day!
Fun and Learning for Visitors
Vacationers came to be entertained, educated, and inspired. Famous guests included William Jennings Bryan, who was a well-known speaker. Evangelists like Sam Jones and Billy Sunday also visited. Musical groups like the Swiss Bell Ringers performed. Even John Philip Sousa's band played there! "Sunny Jim," who was said to be one of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, also visited.
A Cool Summer Escape
The location of Chautauqua made it even more appealing. Even on the hottest summer days, cool breezes blew through the valley. Some evenings were so cool you might need a jacket! Before air-conditioning, this was a welcome break from the city heat. An old swimming pool, once filled with cold spring water, is still a popular spot today.
What People Said About Chautauqua
A brochure from 1912 described the area beautifully:
- "Piasa Chautauqua is located less than 40 miles from St. Louis in a beautiful valley between high, massive bluffs with the great Mississippi serving as a guard in front and almost unexplored forest at back, one of nature’s most picturesque spots, unknown to thousands but dear to those who have enjoyed its beauties and regained health from its wonderful springs and its clear, pure air, delightful cool nights, beautiful scenery and outdoor amusements, boating, swimming, fishing, bathing, lawn tennis, croquet, baseball..."
In 1932, an Illinois tourist guide praised the region's "grandeur." It said the area was even more impressive than the Palisades on the Hudson River.
Protecting Chautauqua's Past
The New Piasa Chautauqua Historical Society was founded in 1983. This group works to connect Chautauqua's history with the surrounding area. Because of its importance, it was named the New Piasa Chautauqua Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Chautauqua Today
Today, Chautauqua has over two hundred cottages and large homes. Many of these homes are still owned by the families of the original owners.
