More than 170 years of African American cultural history give Champaign a distinctive historical perspective: the African American Heritage Trail documents this history in Champaign County. The region also features gardens, trails through diverse landscapes and cultural institutions with their own areas of focus. This mix offers several ways to explore the region: follow its historical thread or focus on plants, nature and the performing arts.
History from Different Perspectives
The Doris K. Wylie Hoskins Archive at the Museum of the Grand Prairie contains thousands of archival materials on African American history in Champaign County and east-central Illinois. Together, the trail and archive offer two distinct ways to explore this history: the trail documents a long cultural timeline, while the archive contains extensive materials on this history.
The Champaign County History Museum interprets the county’s history through changing exhibitions. Tours on a variety of themes are offered throughout the year. Since individual dates may change, it’s worth checking the current schedule before your visit.
Gardens and Their Distinctive Features
The Champaign County Idea Garden is an 18,000-square-foot planted area in the University of Illinois Arboretum in Urbana. One garden area is dedicated to children; since 1997, the garden has also hosted public workshops. The planted area, children’s garden and workshops each add a distinct feature to the same site.
The Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, covering eight acres, is located in the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet. The preserve itself spans 873 acres along the Sangamon River in hilly woodland. The two figures therefore refer to different scales: the botanical garden and the larger preserve. Check the garden’s current access information before visiting.
The Red Oak Rain Garden is home to nearly 60 native plant species and serves as a venue for public workshops and events. In addition to its plants, its role as a place for public programs is part of its character.
Landscapes, Stages and Special Experiences
The Kickapoo Rail Trail passes through woodland, prairies and wetlands. The currently open 6.7-mile section runs between Urbana and St. Joseph. The trail follows a rail line abandoned in the 1980s and offers a car-free connection and recreation opportunities between several communities and parks. Here, a former transportation route now serves recreation and mobility.
Japan House offers garden tours by appointment. They cover history, design concepts and plants, bringing together botanical topics with historical and design-related questions.
The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana has five indoor stages, including Foellinger Great Hall. At Parkland College in northwest Champaign, the William M. Staerkel Planetarium uses a digital Digistar projection system. It’s a good idea to check the current program schedule before visiting.
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery offers goat hikes, goat yoga and tastings of goat cheese and goat milk gelato; some activities may be seasonal. The farm also includes Caprae restaurant, which uses locally sourced ingredients. Its combination of activities, tastings and dining offers a different experience from exhibitions, gardens and performing arts.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy, Stephenson, Iroquois County, White County.
Go to the main travel guide: Illinois.
