Illinois knows how to surprise people. Beyond the skyscrapers, suburbs, prairies, and small towns, the state is home to a collection of castle landmarks that feel delightfully out of place in the best possible way. With their towers, stonework, and dramatic silhouettes, they add an unexpected layer of beauty and personality to the Illinois landscape.
The Castles of Illinois is a four-part series exploring these remarkable places through Prairie’s Most Unlikely Fortresses, places that seem to have risen from the land through sheer will and stubborn imagination. From there, the series moves to Castles Along the Mississippi and the Bluffs, where these graceful ladies turn the river and its surrounding heights into a fitting backdrop for drama and grandeur. Illinois’s Hidden Castles steps into the lesser-known corners of the state, as a reminder that some of the most remarkable places are the ones least expected. Finally, Altgeld’s Castles examines the collegiate Gothic strongholds commissioned during the era of Governor John Peter Altgeld, where medieval design was recast as a statement of academic permanence.
For those looking for a weekend adventure, this guide includes two itineraries that turn a castle crawl into an easy Illinois road trip. These two itineraries offer a pair of easy routes through Illinois’ most unexpected castle country.
Together, the series looks at how fantasy, ambition, history, and architecture came together to leave behind some of the state’s most memorable and unusual structures. The result is a different view of Illinois, one that feels a little grander, a little more whimsical, and far more unexpected than many people imagine.
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