Discover Marion County

Salem and Centralia offer different highlights: in Salem, early county history, memorial sites, and outdoor activities come together. Centralia adds an extraordinary bell tower, railroad and mining history, and a historic downtown. You can plan your trip around the topics that interest you most.

Salem: History with a tangible presence

Salem was founded in 1823 as the county seat of the newly established Marion County. The city developed along the Vincennes Trail as a stagecoach stop. Another historic site offers a glimpse into American social history: the G.I. Bill of Rights was created on November 4, 1943, at Luther B. Easley Post No. 128 of the American Legion.

The William Jennings Bryan Birthplace Museum was built in 1852. The items on display include photographs, newspaper clippings, and awards, as well as life masks of William Jennings Bryan and his wife. The collection also includes furniture owned by his parents, along with a flatiron and fire tongs from their home. Visits previously required a special appointment; check in advance whether a visit is possible.

A local story links the creation of Miracle Whip to Max Crossett’s Cafe. It is told as a Salem story, not as a verified account of the product’s history. Stories like this offer a different way to experience the town than its historic buildings and collections.

Centralia: Bells, museums, and railroad heritage

The Centralia Carillon consists of 65 bells, stands 165 feet tall, and is considered the world’s seventh-largest bell tower. Public tours required a free reservation; check in advance whether tours are offered and when. The tower is notable for its impressive scale and specific visitor offering, while the city’s exhibits explore other historical topics.

The Centralia Area Historical Museum focuses on the region’s railroad history: historic photographs, tools, and clothing accompany a tour through a real caboose. Other exhibits cover mining history and the Mine No. 5 disaster. Items on display include blasting caps, lunch buckets, rescue equipment, and newspaper accounts. The same museum lets you explore two aspects of the region’s working history.

The past is also present in the cityscape. Historic downtown Centralia still has buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can explore downtown on foot; signs beside the main entrances along the sidewalk identify buildings of historical significance. The Centralia Carnegie Library is one of the 106 original Carnegie libraries in Illinois and hosts numerous free public events each month. Check the schedule before your visit.

Bicentennial Park is home to a wooden water tower, one of only two surviving structures of its kind along the Canadian National Railroad route. Fairview Park offers another highlight: the steam locomotive No. 2500 commemorates the region’s railroad history. The park is also home to a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, an Air Age Memorial dedicated to those who fought in all wars, and a Republic F-105 Thunderchief. This was the exact aircraft assigned to Vietnam veteran Lt. Col. William “Bill” Pachura in Takhli.

Nature, events, and different ideas for a day out

In Salem, the Bryan Park Nature Trail is a 1.75-mile educational trail. Another activity is Karma DGC: the moderately challenging, wooded disc golf course has 18 holes on the well-maintained grounds of Bryan Memorial Park. The main pool at Salem Family Aquatic Center covers 9,000 square feet. If this size is important for your plans, confirm the current details before your visit.

Bryan Memorial Park hosts two annual events at different times of year: Family Fun Day in June and the Apple Festival in mid-September. Check the exact dates before traveling. Salem Community Theater & Cultural Center offers live theater performances and educational programs; here too, it’s a good idea to check the schedule. This gives families or groups with different interests a range of cultural activities, outdoor recreation, events, and museum visits, without having to plan every day around the same focus.

When looking for a vacation rental, you can use these highlights to guide your choice of location. Those planning to focus on museums and historic buildings will make different plans than those prioritizing a nature trail, disc golf, or event dates.

Explore more places

Other places to consider include Odin and Adams, Vermilion, Pulaski County, Jersey County, Wabash County, and Rock Island.

For the broader travel overview: Illinois.