After a great time visiting Chicago, we traveled to Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. It is a lovely park and we were happy with our level site. Since Labor Day, the campgrounds have been pretty deserted Monday thru Thursday, and this park was no exception. The park lies along the Illinois River and is known for its fascinating sandstone rock formations. There are 18 canyons in the park formed by glacial meltwater and stream erosion. The waterfalls in the canyons are dry this time of year with the best time to see the waterfalls being in the spring during the end of winter thaw. The area has been home to numerous Native American tribes. The Park gets its name, Starved Rock, from a Native American legend. In the 1760’s, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe was killed by a member of the Illiniwek tribe. During the ensuing battles to avenge the killing, a band of Illiniwek under siege, sought refuge on the top of a 125 foot sandstone bluff. The Ottawas surrounded the bluff and stayed there until the Illiniweks died of starvation, thus the name “Starving Rock”. In 1673 French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette passed through here on their way to Illinois from Mississippi. When the French claimed the region, including most of the Mississippi Valley, they built Fort Louis on top of Starved Rock during the winter of 1682-1683.
Chief Pontiac
Model of French Fort Louis in the Visitors Center
When we decided to come to this park we had no idea of the variety of fascinating things we would discover. When driving to the park we noticed a sign for a Scout Museum. Of course Eagle Scout Bill had to tour this museum. It gave a fascinating history of the Boy and Girl Scouts, and also housed a Civil War exhibit and an exhibit on the history of Ottawa County. The Scout Museum had a special geocache
We found these statues of Lincoln and Douglas while geocaching in an Ottawa city park.
and of course we had to hunt that down. We loved all the places the multi cache took us in the area.
Inside of the Scout Museum, Ottawa, Illinois
This man created the boy and girl scout movements that we know today.
William Dickson Boyce, who brought the Boy Scout movement to the United States.
Ernest Thompson Seton
Bill wore this a uniform like this in the 1960’s.
Badges honoring Boyce, founder of the Boy Scouts.
A memorial to William Dickson Boyce. We found this strange because it was in a cemetery but appeared to be more like a memorial than a grave marker, even though his daughters and sons are buried nearby.
The second day we hiked up to Starved Rock and did some more geocaches of the area. Starved Rock State Park has a lodge, and while geocaching in that area we discovered many trees that had been carved with eagles, Indians, and even a Boy Scout sign.
View of the dam on the Illinois River from the top of Starved Rock
Starved Rock
PLEASE don’t take my picture!
We had to climb MANY steps to get to the top of Starved Rock!
More eagles winter in Starved Rock than anywhere else in the lower 48 states.
This carving was dedicated to the Native American Indians. It was done by Peter “Wolf” Toth who carved and donated statues in every state. This donation is his 62nd carving.
Our time here went by too quickly and soon it was time to move on. We certainly did enjoy our time at Starved Rock State Park!