Attractions
Hornbaker Gardens is a destination-quality nursery specializing in perennials. Hornbaker attracts enthusiasts from all over the United States with its large collection of hostas, daylilies, irises, ornamental grasses, aquatics and more. If you love creating beautiful outdoor places, you will love Hornbaker Gardens.
The Homestead was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and it still stands proudly today on the eastern edge of town. Revered Lovejoy, a dynamic and passionate abolitionist, occupied the Homestead from 1838 until he died in 1864. Lovejoy helped many African Americans along their way north to freedom in Canada.
3. Festival 56
Princeton is host to Festival 56 Illinois Largest Summer Theatre Festival. Festival 56 is professional theatre held in the heart of Princeton. Each season brings a new array of exceptional comedies, musicals and theatre classics, including six mainstage shows, plus free evenings performances of Shakespeare. Veteran festival-goers know they can enjoy two or three shows in just one or two days, plus late night cabarets and educational workshops.
Also known as The Red Brick Schoolhouse, the Colton Schoolhouse is now located on the grounds of the Owen Lovejoy Homestead, where it was moved from its original location 2.5 miles east. This wonderful home of 19th century learning was built in 1849 and its first class was held in 1850.
5. Shadows of the Blue and Gray
Shadows of the Blue and Gray is one of the finest Civil War reenactments in all the Midwestern United States. Take a journey through time and experience a weekend that is full of history and entertainment.
6. Bureau County Historical Society
This outstanding rural museum stands in two buildings at the intersection of Park Avenue West and Pleasant Street. It holds a wonderful collection of Native American artifacts, pioneer utensils, farming equipment, Civil War and military memorabilia, musical instruments, glassware and china and ephemera of bygone days. It is also home to the fabulous photography collection of Henry W. Imke, who practiced in Princeton from 1866 until 1923.
Hunter’s Ridge Golf Club was opened as a private club in 1911, and now is open to the public. Hunter’s Ridge is rural gem 18 hole par 72 course with a rating of 70.5. This is also a great location to hold any special event!
8. Sherwood Antique Mall and Hattie’s Arts & Antiques
Starting on the north end of Main Street, Sherwood is chock full of antiques and ephemera from years gone by. Hattie’s is an experience unto itself, offering a charming array of handmade goods that could have come out of your favorite aunt’s attic.
9. Soldiers and Sailors Winged Victory Monument
Located across from the Courthouse on South Main Street, this monument was created in 1913 to honor Princeton’s veterans of all wars and is one of the largest winged-monuments in the U.S. It features eight bronze tablets, two on each side of the monument, containing names of all the volunteers enlisted from Bureau County. Winged Victory is depicted with an upraised torch and a down-turned sword.
10. Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past
This may be one of the most unique retail stores in Illinois. Begun in the mid-1800s, Patterns of the Past offers the largest selection of new “store stock” China patterns anywhere. If you’ve ever searched for lost or broken China pattern without luck, Hoffman’s might be your secret to success.
11. Red Covered Bridge
The Red Covered Bridge is located just north of Interstate 80, the bridge was constructed in 1863 and is one of just six of its kind in a state that once boasted 132. It crosses Big Bureau Creek and is part of the Peoria-Galena Trail. You can almost hear the clattering horse hooves of days gone by when you stand in its cooling shade.
12. Captain Swift Bridge Covered bridges of the past were designed and built for horse-and-buggy traffic and are impractical today. Princeton’s Captain Swift Bridge, however, is a two-lane modern affair built to current highway standards. Even semi-trucks and farm combines can safely travel it, despite the fact that it is constructed entirely out of wood.
13. Cattlemen’s Beef and Ag Festival
This festival is a good old-fashioned, down-home, rib-cooking, corn-boiling, tractor-pulling good time. Bring your appetite because the food is great and to say there’s “lots of it,” would be an understatement. You will never feel more at home away from home.
14. Bureau County Fair
The Bureau County Fair was founded more than 150 years ago! See Ribbon Winning Queen Pageants, pies, preserves, needlework’s, flower arrangements, demolition derbies, truck and tractor pulls, livestock shows, carnival attractions, great food and plenty more.
15. Farm Bureau Farmer’s Market
Wherever you live, there is a good chance that you have a farmers market. But not like this one. This is a farmer’s famous market. Visit Darius Miller Park twice weekly during warm months for a great source of locally produced food and vegetables!
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