Peoria, south-west of Chicago on the Illinois River, is the oldest town in the state. Features of interest, in addition to a number of historic old houses, are the Wildlife Prairie Park (native animals of Illinois, houses of the pioneers) and the Wheels o' Time Museum (old automobiles, agricultural machinery, domestic equipment, tools and implements).
East Peoria is home to Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of earth-moving equipment.
Address: East Peoria Chamber of Commerce, 111 West Washington Street, Suite 290, East Peoria, IL 61611, United States
Phone: 1 (309) 699-6212, Fax: 1 (309) 699-6220
Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences includes art and science exhibitions, a children's discovery center, planetarium, folk art gallery, African art gallery, and an Illinois River decoy exhibit.
The Lakeview Planetarium features the world's largest solar system model, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Sky shows are presented on a regular basis.
Glen Oak Park features numerous recreational opportunities such as hiking and biking trails, and baseball diamonds. The Glen Oak Fishing Lagoon is used for ice skating in the winter months. The Peoria Zoo began in the late 1800s with a donated herd of elk. Today it is home hundreds of animals!
Address: Peoria Zoo, 2218 North Prospect Road, Peoria, IL 61603, United States
Phone: 1 (309) 686-3365, Fax: 1 (309) 685-6240
Hours:
10am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
The Wheels O' Time Museum features interactive exhibits that include airplanes, cars, clocks, dolls, tractors and musical instruments. Fifty-five collectors have brought their collections together in four large buildings.
Wildlife Prairie Park is a 2,000 acre zoological park - home to wolves, bison, waterfowl, black bear, elk, cougar, otter and other Illinois animals. The Pioneer Farmstead is complete with farm animals. Other exhibits include a one room school house and log cabin.
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