This is named for a long decreased resident, Hermann Kohlsaat donated several items (statues and…read moreother artworks, for example) in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, who for a time lived in Galena both before and after the Civil War. Although the bridge was constructed in 1980, The Galena Foundation dedicated it in 2015 and the great grandson of its namesake was here for the dedication. This pedestrian bridge links the Main Street area in Galena with Grant Park on the other side of the Galena River. In June, it's decorated with pride flags, and the steps up to the bridge decorated in the colors of the rainbow. Those flags blowing in the wind is what piqued my interest in the bridge. I have to admit, it's not what I would have expected from a small town in western Illinois, and I'm glad my stereotype about how the town might view LGBTQ folks may have been wrong. It provides lovely views of the river and folks recreating on it--kayaking and canoeing are popular activities here. There are some benches on the sides of the bridge near the steps. If you're out for a leisurely stroll, it's nice, or if you're parked near the Grant Museum and want to leave your car there (if allowed) and walk over to Main Street this will allow you to do so (and vice versa). It may go without saying but I will anyway: The east side (I believe) of the bridge, near Main Street, is not accessible. I'm not sure about the Grant Park side; it's possible you can get on from there without steps.

I read several reviews that included comments about rude staff members. However, our experience was…read morethe opposite. We arrived very early for our scheduled tour, so decided to tour the outside of the building and take some photographs. A very cordial staff member came outside and invited us into the lobby to await our tour time. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and informative. However, there were parts of the tour where background noise made it difficult to hear her. I would recommend anyone with any hearing impairment stay close to the guide to ensure you can hear the narration. Overall, we really enjoyed the tour and would love to revisit for one of the "ghost tours" on offer.

If I could give zero stars, I absolutely would! The staff here are extremely rude and…read moreunprofessional. We had just pulled barely inside the gate when a woman stopped us with her car. Her very first words were, "Why are you here?" -- no greeting, no courtesy, just instant hostility. We were only there to take a quick photo of the outside and look at the grounds, as we were considering renting the venue for a wedding. We're from out of town and were in the area just for the weekend, but she immediately accused us of trespassing instead of simply asking what we needed. To make things worse, she blocked the driveway so we couldn't turn around properly, forcing us to back through the grass rather than letting us move forward a couple of feet to the wider part of the drive. I'm also quite sure her behavior was influenced by my alternative haircut and color, which made the experience feel even more judgmental and discriminatory. We will never come back here or recommend this place to anyone.

I had the Beef tips special. It was delicious. The other 4…read morehad the patty melt special. All was great. Our server Laurie was fantastic!

Roaring river is a great place! they have bathrooms electric access a Hatchery that YOU CAN SEE!!!…read moreif you love fishing it's definitely for you accessible docks and swimming area nice scenery and cheapish

fascinating history, sadly the corps of enineers tore down the old hotel tower a couple years ago…read more the amphitheater can be seen. moreso when the water is down, and a few foundations. nice to imagine, sad to actually see..

This is most certainly a local gem. Seeing a sunset here is truly magical - the gritty, spray…read morepainted building contrasts with the light reflecting off the water. The building itself is gated and locked off, so you can't explore inside, but it's still a very unique view from afar.

At first I was reluctant but after meeting the amazing staff I couldn't help it! I love this trend!!read more

i love this theatre company. they put on very good theatre every summer. not just good theatre,…read moregreat theatre. 5/5 stars on yelp, that is big.

Options for autumn when Canada was "closed" (2 of 2)…read more - - - - - You may not know Thorncrown Chapel by its name, but you've most likely seen photos of it. It's a major example of "less is more" and "good things come in small packages." Thorncrown Chapel is a latticed timber structure - a nondenominational chapel that is Christian in its inspiration - sitting in the hilly, wooded terrain just outside of bohemian Eureka Springs, Arkansas. You will have to look for its small roadway from the highway to visit it. To say that it might resemble a popsicle stick model would be reductionist, but there is this affect in the way it looks. The difference is that the chapel is all about carefully selected, shaped, and connected wood members that make it a significant place in the world of American architecture. It was designed by the states's native son E. Fay Jones. He was the recipient of numerous awards, as is Thorncrown Chapel. The chapel is enclosed in glass. This brings in and keeps out the surroundings and elements, respectively. Sitting in here is a very serene experience. One could worship if they want - its scheme is a Christian one - or could just savor the silence. However, there is soothing instrumental music playing in the background that could intersect with today's new age variety. I thought that was humorous. They do not charge an entrance fee. They didn't when I visited. However, they do ask for donations and, if you visited, you should make a donation. There was a person on hand to answer questions. There might be events here, causing the chapel to open and close for short periods. One typical event might be a wedding. Closer to the entrance and away from the chapel is an office that tends to such affairs. Whether to visit Thorncrown Chapel garners the answer, "It depends." It is at the northwestern border of the state, just outside of Eureka Springs and below the Missouri border. However, it is far from Little Rock and Hot Springs, though not absurdly far from Fayetteville, home of the University of Arkansas. You will inevitably combine your visit with a visit to Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs is an artsy community shoehorned into a hilly mountain town that has restaurants, coffeehouses, gift shops, and the like ... and most likely garden variety stoners who work at these places. Think Nevada City, CA, Sedona, AZ, Galena, IL, Saratoga Springs, NY, and similar granolafied towns thrown into the middle of rural (and more conservative) America. I got derailed discussing Eureka Springs and its hippie vibe. If, to you, the distance is reasonable and doable, do visit Thorncrown Chapel. It's an interesting and unique mix of contextual, transparent, simple, and yet complex.

This place is stunning!! The architecture is stunning and with nature wrapping itself all around…read morethe grounds it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Gorgeous!! I'm so glad we stopped here and visited! Had the place pretty much to ourselves on a…read moregorgeous Thursday morning. Friendly staff, and amazing views!

We must have come in the dry season; I heard some people couldn't get down to the actual spring…read more Everything was easily accessible - and the walkway was well above water level. We spent roughly two hours here. We first watched two short videos in the visitor center - maybe 15 minutes in total. One video was on the history of the area; the other video was about the spring itself. The man at the desk recommended that we go down the stairs, hang a left and the bottom and circle the area clockwise. That worked great. It is over a hundred stairs down to the walkway that parallels the Blue Spring. After seeing the spring, there are paths around flowers in a few gardens, some equipment from decades ago, a cave-ish overhang, chances to see wildlife, then finally a gradual incline to get back up to the top - with a boardwalk as well. There is a gift shop. Restrooms are actually just outside the entrance. Signs help throughout. Wasn't crowded in September.

The world's largest fork in Springfield, Missouri is the kind of roadside oddity that makes you…read morestop, stare, and wonder who got really hungry during a city planning meeting. At 35 feet tall and 11 tons of stainless steel, it's less a utensil and more a chrome exclamation point stabbed into the sidewalk.

Fantastic. Accessible. Impressive - visit more than once…read more - - - - - - - - August, 2024 Visit We discovered the World's Largest Fork, on the south side of town, in 2020... and it is large! The fork is some 35 feet tall... it is located on Chesterfield Avenue... Location... the south side of Springfield, MO... the James River Freeway circles Springfield... at the southern point / intersection is with the S. Kansas Expressway... go one road north... turn left onto Chesterfield Blvd... the fork is less than a quarter mile away, on the right side... the road gently turns left... as it begins to turn back to the right, you'll need to turn right there... and then you'll see it. According to Atlas Obscura, and Roadside America, this is no longer the tallest but it is second tallest and the fork with the largest mass "At 35 feet high, the fork rise in front of a three-story building occupied by Noble and Associates, a Springfield ad agency. Although no longer the world's tallest -- it was bested by a 37-foot-high fork in Oregon in 2022 -- it remains, at 11,000 pounds, the world's heaviest." Roadside America shares: "Our own local associates tell us that in 1998 the fork stood in front of a restaurant that failed on South Glenstone, in otherwise booming Springfield. The ad agency hauled the fork across town to its new office building, where it's been ever since. Noble does a lot of work for the food service and retail industry, so in that respect the fork makes sense." Thank you to any and all, at the now closed original restaurant, at the Noble and Associates ad agency, and any/all who helped relocate this treasure! We've now visited twice and we'll visit again! ----- -----

Hard to miss this beautiful building near downtown Bentonville with a historical marker out front…read more The marker reads, "Built in 1890 by Captain NH Henry. Captain Henry served in the Civil War as a member of General Stonewall Jackson's artillery. After the war Henry moved to Bentonville where he helped build Bentonville's first steam railway and served as a Treasurer for Benton County. The Henry House is built in the Italianate style and the main façade has been unaltered since construction. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988." It is a two-story brick structure with Italianate architectural details like trusses in the front-facing gable, a scrollwork balustrade on the main porch, and scrolled brackets on the hood over a side entrance. This 1890 construction is a good example of the late Italianate style brick homes that were constructed in Bentonville in large quantities between 1870 and 1895. I was able to find the Henry House on an apartment/short-term rental site. [Review 19801 overall - 277 in Arkansas - 774 of 2023.]

stayed 2 days in recently built, fabulously comfortable 2-bedroom apartment above garage. wish it…read morewere longer, we'll have to come back! Pristine, lovely, thoughtfully equipped, quiet, spacious. whoever did your design work, rose petals in their path!