LaSalle Between the I&M Canal and City History

LaSalle is the western end of the I&M Canal. A mule-drawn boat ride, outdoor destinations, and historical themes offer different ways to plan your trip. You can decide what to focus on based on whether you prefer an activity on the water, a route with designated endpoints, or architecture and city history.

Canal, Boat, and Downtown

Visitors can enjoy a leisurely mule-drawn boat ride on the calm waters of the canal. The Volunteer is docked in downtown LaSalle. The boat is 76 feet long and has 70 seats. The boat ride and information about The Volunteer offer different points of reference if you want the I&M Canal to be the focus of your stay.

The I&M Canal Visitor Center is located at 754 First Street in Downtown La Salle. There you’ll find exhibits on the canal’s history, a map table to help plan your explorations, brochures, and knowledgeable staff. There’s also a National Park Passport stamp and information about renting bikes through the bike-share program. The visitor center thus offers both information about the canal’s history and practical planning resources.

Lock 16 Café in Downtown La Salle serves handcrafted food and drinks. Since the café’s hours may change, check them before planning a visit.

Trail and Prairie Park

The I&M Canal State Trail stretches 61.5 miles from Rockdale to La Salle. The partly paved, level trail is accessible at Lock 14 and is suitable for hikers and cyclists. It passes through a variety of landscapes and by state parks and historic sites. The distance refers to the entire route between the stated endpoints, not to a single section.

Prairie Park includes a 110-acre wildlife preserve, a 20-acre lake, and hiking trails. The trail is described by its endpoints and total length; Prairie Park is described by separate acreage figures for the wildlife preserve and lake, as well as by its trails. The two nature destinations therefore differ not only in their features but also in whether you choose a route or a named park as your focus.

Architecture and City History

The Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle is one of the Midwest’s finest examples of Second Empire architecture. In 2007, the National Park Service and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior designated the building a National Historic Landmark because of its significance to La Salle, Illinois, and the United States. The term Second Empire classifies the architecture; the National Historic Landmark designation reflects the house’s significance at the local, state, and national levels.

The La Salle Historical Tour includes dozens of stops featuring landmarks that have stood for generations and introduces visitors to the city’s history. The two offer distinct historical focuses: a single building with a named architectural classification and a tour that includes numerous long-standing landmarks.

Discover more destinations: Streator, Oglesby, Ottawa, Grand Ridge, Mendota, Peru, Utica.

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