Discover Carterville

Carterville combines impressive nature experiences with tangible regional history. For planning your trip, there are two distinct focal points to choose from: the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge associated with Carterville, with its lakes, forests and wetlands, as well as the historic sites and museums in the surrounding area. Depending on whether you prefer active days in nature, cultural discoveries or a varied combination, you can choose your vacation rental to match your preferred type of holiday.

Nature, wilderness and three lakes

The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge covers 44,000 acres. Its landscape includes oak-hickory upland forest, bottomland hardwood forest, farmland, shrubland, prairie, wetlands and lakes. This diversity makes the area a distinctive natural environment for visitors who want to experience different types of landscapes during their trip. The refuge also includes a 4,050-acre wilderness area designated by Congress.

The bodies of water also shape the character of the destination. The refuge associated with Carterville includes three lakes: Crab Orchard Lake, Little Grassy Lake and Devil’s Kitchen Lake. Wildlife observation, boating, hiking, fishing and hunting are possible in the refuge. This allows for a wide variety of daily plans: You can observe the landscape, spend time on the water or choose a more active outing. Those traveling with multiple generations can plan the desired activities separately without structuring the entire stay around just one type of holiday.

Carterville and its local history

The historic downtown of Carterville extends across three blocks between Grand Avenue and James Street, as well as parts of Illinois Avenue around historic Division Street. This clearly defined area offers its own way of exploring the town’s history. Carterville was named in honor of Laban Carter, who opened the county’s first commercial coal mine. The origin of the town’s name and the history of coal mining give your stay a regional perspective that goes beyond nature experiences alone.

The Harrison/Bruce Historical Village provides further historical insights. There, visitors can learn about the history of Williamson County. The site includes Purdy School, which was a one-room public schoolhouse in Perry County, Illinois, from 1860 to 1951, as well as the Julia Harrison Bruce House. The latter is a replica of a house built by David Ruffin Harrison in 1868. Hunter Cabin was built by Emmanuel Hunter in 1818. The various buildings show how differently historic sites of remembrance can be designed.

Museums, events and regional impressions

The John A. Logan College Museum and Gallery displays memorabilia belonging to General John A. Logan and his wife, Mary. The Carterville Heritage Museum presents permanent and changing exhibitions. For planning your trip, this means that even on a day when you do not want to head to the lakes or into nature, there are cultural points of interest to explore.

The local events calendar also includes the Mistletoe Market. The Preservation Foundation organizes it as a benefit event in support of the Carterville Heritage Museum. At Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days, a casting workshop is one of the program highlights; there are also food vendors as well as music and entertainment. These examples complement the permanent historic and scenic attractions with experiences shaped by the local community.

Which type of holiday is the right fit for your accommodation?

If you primarily want to plan wildlife observation, hiking or activities on the water, your search for accommodation should be guided by these nature experiences. If you are more interested in local history, museums and historic buildings, Carterville offers a different focus with its downtown, the Heritage Museum and the Harrison/Bruce Historical Village. It is therefore best to choose a vacation apartment or vacation home based on the experience profile that should define your trip, rather than giving equal weight to all destinations.

For more travel ideas in the surrounding area, it is also worth taking a look at Marion.

For the overarching travel overview: Williamson County.