Eleven state historic sites previously closed by former governor Rod Blagojevich - thanks to the budget - are now reopening. There was a public outcry when Blago shut the sites down on December 1, according to David Blanchette, spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Per the Trib: more ›

Remember the U.S. Mint's 50 States Quarter Program? Illinois' was issued in 2003 and featured a young Abe Lincoln against the background of the state outline, the Chicago skyline, and a prairie-scape. Well, the U.S. Mint is back at it again with a new quarter program, this time honoring the nation's historic parks and sites. According to the program's selection guidelines, "The program will honor the national park or other national site in each host jurisdiction deemed most appropriate in terms or natural or historic significance." The Trib reports that state leaders, including Gov. Quinn who will have the final choice, are mulling over their options. more ›

Governor Quinn said Wednesday that he plans to reopen several state historic sites that former governor Rod Blagojevich closed late last year. At the time, Blagojevich said that cutting nearly $3 million from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency was necessary to plug a hole in the state budget. Quinn has already reopened several state parks that Blagojevich closed along with the historic sites. Although the state is facing an unprecedented budget crisis this year, the governor says that merging state agencies will offset the cost of the reopenings. more ›

The National Register of Historic Places recently added a trio of Chicago-area sites to its list: The Inland Steel Building (30 W. Monroe St.), Spiegel Office Building (1038 W. 35th St.), and Independence Park (3945 N. Springfield Ave.). The additions were made back in February by the National Parks Service. more ›

• Castle Rock State Park, Oregon
• Lowden State Park, Oregon
• Illini State Park, Marseilles
• Hidden Springs State Forrest, Strasburg
• Moraine View State Park, Leroy
• Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton
• Wolf Creek State Park, Windsor
• Dana-Thomas House, Springfield
• Lincoln log cabin near Charleston
• Fort de Chartres, Randolph County
• Vandalia statehouse (Saturday is last day; not open Sundays)
• State center at Bishop Hill, Henry County
• Carl Sandburg birthplace, Galesburg
• Cahokia courthouse
• Hauberg Indian Museum, Rock Island County, (part of the Black Hawk State Historic Site) but the adjacent natural area will stay open.
• Jubilee College, near Peoria
• Apple River Fort, Elizabeth
• Fort Kaskaskia, Randolph County
• Pierre Menard home, Randolph County
  more ›