Illinois River Road

A majestic blue heron stands silhouetted as the sun sets along the Illinois River.

This intricately designed clay pot is an artifact from the Dickenson Mounds Museum Collection.

The symbol of the United States of America, the bald eagle can be seen in its natural habitat at the Wildlife Prairie State Park.

Wading herons make thin silhouettes while searching for food in the drainage ditch at Emiquon Preserve.

Father Jacques Marquette talks to a native tribe next to the Mississippi River.

This painting by Frances Anne Hopkins (1838-1919) shows a large Montreal Canoe full of Voyageurs shooting some whitewater rapids.

Several of the Polar Bears of Northern Illinois, a snowmobiling group, stop along a snowy snowmobile trail to chat.

Colorful pieces of blown glass catch the sun at the Peoria RiverFront Art Festival.

This waterfall trickles through the niche it has carved along the cliffs near Starved Rock State Park.

These byway visitors ride along the well-packed towpath that follows the I and M Canal.