Take a Break from the Highway
Off I-80 Exit 56 to Princeton!
Away from the metropolitan rush and traffic, Princeton, Illinois offers a western anchor to the entire Starved Rock Country
region. It’s easy to get here-- less than two hours from the Chicago Loop; ideal for day trips and weekend visits
Princeton’s Amtrak Depot offers FREE parking and a historic charm that serves more than 40,000 passengers a year to and from Chicago and
the western U.S.
Covered Bridges and More
Two covered bridges, the nearby Hennepin Canal, and beautifully restored historic homes on tree-lined streets are just part of the picture. Bring
your family—or your class field trip—to see where Abe Lincoln’s friend Owen Lovejoy sheltered slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad.
Visit the Bureau County Historical Society and see what life was like here for the past 150 years.
Friendly Faces, Hometown Places
Start with fresh baked goods and coffee where Princetonians gather. Have breakfast, lunch or dinner with great local foods and brews.
Visit Princeton’s retail shops, renovated with respect for the past and full of stylish, contemporary gifts. Find women’s clothing, home furnishings,
hand-crafted artwork and antiques galore.
And don’t miss the “Sea of China” at Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past—porcelain sought after by collectors throughout the world.
Come for the Arts, Culture and Fun
Princeton’s Festival 56 professional theater was recently
described in a Chicago Tribune article with the headline
“Small Town; Big Drama.” Free Shakespeare in the Park
performances and a full summer schedule of musicals
and dramas appeal to sophisticated audiences and
children alike.
Special events like the “Down on Main Street” Summer
Concert Series bring families and popular music fans
together for food, refreshments and dancing. The Z-Tour
Bike Ride in July attracts hundreds of cyclists who pedal
between 10 and 100 miles. The annual Homestead Festival
parade in September attracts thousands.
Hornbaker Gardens, known throughout the Midwest for
its garden center and botanical gardens, also hosts an early
fall Artisan’s Market. The Barn at Hornbaker’s, just one
of several attractive wedding venues around Princeton,
has reservations from couples a year or more in advance.
One Day is Not Enough . Come for a Visit…and Stay!
Homes and commercial real estate here are often less
than half of suburban and Chicago prices. Princeton’s
schools, health care, recreation, affordability and business
climate are all part of the quality of life that attracts
millennials, young families and retirees.
Welcome to Princeton, Illinois!