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Hill Home Attractions Recreation Restaurants/Hotels/ Bed & Breakfast  |
Attractions
Fifteen of the colony’s twenty-one buildings still stand in Bishop Hill. These buildings are included in the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, a five-acre National Historic Landmark that commemorates the Swedish settlement. Among the restored buildings are five museums and twenty-five shops where skills of colony life are re-enacted.
The Steeple Building was constructed in 1854 using handmade bricks and stucco. Its three-stories and clock tower add to the impressive stature of this Greek Revival. The Heritage Museum is found inside. There are displays about the community’s history, memorabilia on exhibit, and a slide show about Bishop Hill’s history.
The Colony
Church was Bishop Hill’s first permanent building built
in 1847. The church has three full floors where the basement and main
floor were used as housing for new families. There were twenty 100 square
foot rooms with each family getting one room. Today, the main floor is
a museum that showcases colony artifacts. The top story has a fully restored
sanctuary featuring the original handmade walnut pews capable of seating
1,000. During the Jansson years at Bishop Hill, church services were held
twice a day with all colonists attending. Each Christmas the church holds
a candlelight service called Julotta. For more information call (309)
927-3345.
More than ninety Olof Kran’s prints can be found at the Bishop
Hill Museum. The museum provides a magnificent look into
Bishop Hill’s history through the eyes of one of its own. These
prints are a perfect way to visualize what colony life was like. Call
(309) 927-3345 for more information about the museum.
Other buildings found in Bishop Hill State Historic Site include The Colony Blacksmith Shop, a restored general store, The Bjorkland Hotel, and the Henry County Historical Museum. For more information about the Bishop Hill State Historic Site call (309) 927-3899.