Heritage Canyon, Illinois, United States
4.5 (44 reviews) Spent Ranking #3 in Fulton Historic Sites
A cool pioneer village inside a former rock quarry.
Upon our visit to Fulton's Annual Dutch Days Festival, we toured Heritage Canyon - an 1850's village. The Canyon provided a great walking tour of historic buildings from a time long ago. My husband and I especially enjoyed the swinging bridge and log cabin settlement. We were amazed that just one couple built all of the buildings and outfitted each one with appropriate artifacts. The one-room school house, Canyon Church, and Blacksmith Shop were very impressive. We will definitely visit again with family and friends.
Address
515 N 4th St, Fulton, IL 61252-1825
Mobile
Website
http://www.cityoffulton.us/index.php?option=com
Current local date and time now
Monday, May 13, 2024, 3:23
User Ratings
4.5 based on (44 reviews)
Excellent
59%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Reviews
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5Raina P 5:00 PM Mar 4, 2020
Summer Day Trip 2019
I have been coming to heritage since i was a child. It is a nice hike, with 1800's styled outbuildings to view. You used to be able to actually go in to the buildings, but that has since changed. I recommend plenty of bug spray before venturing out! Plenty of neat photo ops, and a beautiful chapel that you can still rent for weddings!
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5Taylor B 5:00 PM Mar 4, 2017
Is this a neat attraction or what?
Heritage Canyon isn't what you think it is. It is a 12-acre wooded nature walk located just up the bank from the Mississippi River in Fulton, Illinois. It was a vision of a local man, Harold Wierenga, who built a miniature town representing Illinois in the good old days in an abandoned rock quarry. Wierenga constructed many small buildings depicting life in the area as it was years ago, such as a church with a pump organ, a blacksmith shop and doctor's and dentist's offices. There also is a waterfall, swinging bridge and marked trails. Wierenga did all of this by himself in his spare time. He passed away in 1999, leaving his children to carry on. The attraction is open to the public every day for a donation. When you walk into the park, you are transported back into the 1800s as the path leads you past a log cabin settlement with its outbuildings and through a 52-foot covered bridge. You pass the old church, the scene of many weddings, and approach the old mill's water wheel and fish pond. A short walk up the hill and the brick sidewalk will take you past the Old Canyon House with its summer kitchen nestled closed by its side. Then you walk down the sidewalk past the doctor's house and find yourself on the main street of a small town. There you will find the blacksmith's shop, the print shop, the school house and other shops and businesses which could be found in most small towns in the 1800s. In 2005, the City of Fulton took over ownership of Heritage Canyon. In 2007, Wierenga's wife died. A fitting memorial to the Wierengas is on display near the entrance to the Canyon.
