Ronald Reagan Trail facts for kids
The Ronald Reagan Trail is a special route through central Illinois. It connects towns and cities that were important to Ronald Reagan, who later became the President of the United States. The trail was created on May 21, 1999, by the Illinois government. It was officially opened with a special ceremony and a parade on August 25, 2000. The idea for the trail came from Joe Serangeli, who was the mayor of Eureka, Illinois. A group of volunteers helped promote the trail for many years. In 2016, the care of the trail's information moved to the Ronald W. Reagan Society at Eureka College.
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Exploring the Ronald Reagan Trail
The Ronald Reagan Trail is more than 100 miles long. It takes about two hours to drive the whole route. Brown and white signs with a picture of Reagan's face mark the way. The trail forms a general triangle shape. You can explore it in different parts.
From Monmouth to Eureka
This part of the trail goes through the southwest of Illinois. It follows U.S. Route 34 from Monmouth, Illinois to Interstate 74 near Galesburg, Illinois. Then it continues on I-74 to Peoria, Illinois, and finally on U.S. Route 24 to Washington, Illinois and Eureka, Illinois. Here are some places you can visit on this segment:
- Monmouth — Ronald Reagan lived here from 1918 to 1919. There is also a special exhibit about him in the city.
- Galesburg — Reagan attended first grade in Galesburg. He lived here around 1915-1916.
- Washington — This town was a common stop for Reagan when he traveled to and from Eureka College.
- Eureka — Reagan went to college at Eureka College, which is located in this town.
From Peoria to Tampico and Dixon
This eastern part of the trail starts on U.S. Route 24 in Peoria. It follows Illinois Route 29 north to Bureau Junction, Illinois. Then it takes Illinois Route 26 to Ohio, Illinois. From there, it splits, going to Tampico, Illinois on Illinois Route 92 and Dixon, Illinois on Illinois 26. Here are some interesting stops:
- Peoria — Reagan visited Peoria for sports events. This included a football game between Eureka College and Bradley University in 1930.
- Chillicothe — This was the home of George Taylor, one of Reagan's close friends.
- Henry — This town hosts the trail's main office and a Visitor Center.
- Princeton — This town is known for its antique shops. It was also a frequent stop on the Underground Railroad long ago.
- Walnut — Three of Reagan's good college friends, Elvin "Pud" Fordham, Eddie Wilson, and Jeff Livey, lived here.
- Ohio — Reagan often stopped here when traveling to and from college.
- Tampico — This is the birthplace of Ronald Reagan. You can also see the Tampico Main Street Historic District and the historic H.C. Pitney Variety Store.
- Dixon — This was the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan after he turned nine. In Dixon, you can find the Dixon Historic Center, the First Christian Church, Lowell Park, and the Wings of Peace and Freedom Park.
- Fulton — Added to the trail in 2009, Fulton was home to Reagan's grandparents and other relatives.
Connecting Princeton and Galesburg
U.S. Route 34 simply connects the cities of Galesburg and Princeton. This completes the triangle shape of the Ronald Reagan Trail.
See also
- Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
