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Discover
the Charm of Bishop Hill!
“Utopia on the Prairie, then and now”
One of 100 Best Small Town Getaways
Come
visit Bishop Hill. Now a National Historic Landmark and
State of Illinois Historic Site, Bishop Hill is a special
place to bring family and friends. A place where time
stands still, Bishop Hill is a treasure to experience
over and over again. Visit the Bishop Hill website to
sample a taste of what we have to offer: click
here.
Bishop
Hill is a distinctive blend of the past and present history,
culture, art and architecture. Living and working together
in this Utopia are descendants of the original colonists,
artisans with a wide range of talents and new settlers
who’ve discovered Bishop Hill’s charm. We
invite you to come, explore and enjoy.
History
Swedish
immigrants seeking religious freedom founded Bishop Hill
in 1846 as a communal Utopian society. Within a few years,
Bishop Hill residents were farming 12,000 acres and marketing
fine linens, furniture, wagons, bricks and brooms. They
also had built 22 buildings, of which 14 still remain.
Museums,
Restaurants and Shopping
Catch
a glimpse of Bishop Hill’s past. State historic
museums, local artisans, handcrafts and internationally
recognized folk art paintings of Olof Krans bring the
history and heritage of Bishop Hill alive. Restored buildings,
artifacts and the village park attest to the perseverance
of the first Swedish settlers.
Bishop
Hill restaurants, each with their own unique ambiance,
feature Swedish and American foods. Swedish meatballs,
fresh baked pies and chocolate surprises are just a few
of the delectable treats you will find.
Extend your day in Bishop Hill and stop in at our wonderful
Bishop
Hill Colony Bakery. Sample artisan breads, pastries,
cookies, muffins, specialty Swedish items and so much
more! Enjoy a mug of soup and delicious sandwich for lunch
or an early dinner. (www.bishophillcolonybakery.com)
Antiques,
Swedish gifts and imports, handmade crafts (Victorian
lace eggs, silhouettes, jewelry, Abaca paper, quilts,
baskets, handcrafted Bishop Hill pottery, decorative items,
brooms, soaps and salves and so much more!) plus lots
of unique gifts stock the shelves of the shops in the
tree-lined village.
Visit
these links to see more of what Bishop Hill shops and
artisans have to offer:
The
Village Smithy
Colony Store
Outsider
Gallery
The
Red Oak
Windy
Corner Farm
Special
Events
Special
events throughout the year include concerts, quilt show,
antique market, 5k run/walk, traditional harvest weekend
and Christmas events. Special exhibitions feature paintings,
photography, textiles and works by visiting artists. The
historic village can accommodate weddings, receptions
and group meetings. But you don’t have to wait for
festival times to experience Bishop Hill. The village
is open every day (although restaurants, museums and shops
may have different hours depending on the day and season,
so call ahead).
To
view a Calendar of Events and learn more details about
Bishop Hill and what it has to offer: click
here.
Other
Area Attractions
Bishop
Hill is also close to many other area attractions: Good’s
Furniture in Kewanee, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park, the
Hennepin Canal, Victorian Geneseo, the Jenny Lind Chapel
in Andover, Knox College, Francis Park Palace in Kewanee,
Lavender Crest Winery in Colona, the John Deere Pavilion
in Moline and the Richmond Hill Players at the Barn Theater
in Geneseo.
For
additional information about area attractions and events,
please visit the Henry
County Tourism Bureau.
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