The Backyard Tourist

09/03/2026

If you’ve ever driven through Springfield and admired the Illinois State Capitol, there’s a good chance you’ve missed some of the best stories hiding in plain sight.

My latest Backyard Tourist post takes a closer look at the **Illinois State Capitol**—not just as the seat of state government, but as a remarkable piece of Illinois history and architecture.

From its soaring dome to the stories of the people who built, shaped, and worked within its walls, the Capitol offers a fascinating glimpse into how Illinois has imagined itself over the generations.

And, as I’ve discovered while exploring historic places across the state, sometimes the most interesting road-trip stops are the ones we think we already know.

If you’re planning a trip to Springfield—or looking for another stop on your next Illinois history road trip—add the Capitol to your list.

Read the latest Backyard Tourist article: The Architecture of Ambition: The Illinois State Capitol
Where history meets the open road.

You see it before you reach it. The dome rises above Springfield—not just visible, but intentional. A statement in stone and iron that this is where power settled after moving, evolving, and, in ea…

09/02/2026

Not cool.
Devastating, actually.

The National Archives and Records Administration plans to close its facility in Chicago, prompting opposition from local archivists and lawmakers who say the move could make historical records unavailable.

09/02/2026

Morris, Illinois: The Small Town That Inspired The Backyard Tourist

Where charming shops, fresh-baked treats, and a walkable downtown make every visit feel like a getaway. By Kelly Klobucher Every traveler has a place that changes the way they look at the world. For me, that place is Morris, Illinois. More than a decade ago, I spent a day wandering its historic downtown, browsing locally owned shops, sipping coffee, and discovering treasures around every corner....

Where charming shops, fresh-baked treats, and a walkable downtown make every visit feel like a getaway. By Kelly Klobucher Every traveler has a place that changes the way they look at the world. Fo…

08/31/2026

**Are you “History Maxxing” on your next road trip?**

I’ve been thinking a lot about a trend I’m calling **History Maxxing**—the idea of intentionally looking for more history, heritage, museums, historic buildings, local stories and cultural experiences while traveling.

It’s something I’ve always done, but I’m seeing more travelers embrace the idea of turning the *in-between* parts of a trip into the destination.

A historic marker becomes a stop.

A mural becomes a story.

A preserved bridge becomes a reason to get out of the car.

A small-town museum becomes the highlight of the afternoon.

And suddenly, the road trip becomes much more than getting from Point A to Point B.

In my latest **Backyard Tourist** article, I look at how destinations can make this kind of exploration easier through **wayfinding and intentional interpretation**—from mural-driven tourism in Ottawa, Illinois, to the Silhouette Driving Tour along the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, to the Looking for Lincoln campaign.

These initiatives have something important in common:

**They don't just tell visitors where to go. They make visitors curious about what they'll find when they get there.**

That matters.

Because heritage tourism isn't always about creating another major attraction. Sometimes it's about helping visitors **notice the history that's already there.**

For destination organizations, museums, preservationists and communities, I think there's a real opportunity here:

➡️ Make history easier to find.
➡️ Connect individual sites into stories.
➡️ Give travelers reasons to get off the main road.
➡️ Use signage, murals, trails and digital tools as invitations to explore.
➡️ Turn a drive through town into an experience.

And for travelers?

**Take the scenic route. Look for the stories. Stop when something makes you curious.**

That's History Maxxing.

And that's very much the Backyard Tourist way of traveling.

Read the article: **History Maxxing: How to Turn a Road Trip Into a Hunt for History**

There is a new way to think about the road trip. It isn’t about checking off the biggest attractions. It isn’t necessarily about driving the farthest, visiting the most states, or cramming six muse…

08/28/2026

There’s No Crying in Baseball!
If you’re a movie-location nerd, a baseball fan, or just love a good excuse for a road trip, it’s time to take the *A League of Their Own* driving tour.
Filmed in and around Illinois, Penny Marshall’s 1992 classic brought the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League to life—and some of those filming locations are still waiting to be discovered.
From baseball diamonds to small-town streets, you can follow in the footsteps of Dottie, Kit, Jimmy, and the Rockford Peaches while seeing a very different side of Illinois.
This is exactly the kind of trip I love at The Backyard Tourist: a little movie history, a little Illinois history, a scenic drive, and plenty of places to stop along the way.
So grab your glove, cue up the soundtrack, and hit the road.
Because sometimes the best way to experience a movie is to go find where it happened.

“There’s no crying in baseball!” More than three decades after Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own arrived in theaters, the movie still feels remarkably timeless. It is funny, nostalgic and genu…

08/28/2026

Why can’t I have invented a candy?

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

Ugh!

The fire destroyed the museum's historic plasterwork, parquet flooring, furniture and books.

08/28/2026

This is a pretty amazing place. And the author is correct. Tricia Kelly is a fantastic tour guide!

Tucked away in La Salle, Illinois, the Hegeler Carus Mansion stands as one of the most impressive Victorian homes in the Midwest. Built in the 1870s, this