Zion: Discover Local History and Nature

Zion offers two distinct focuses for planning a trip: the city’s history and a variety of ways to spend time outdoors. Lake Mound Cemetery and Shiloh House tell the story of the city’s founding; Esther’s Well is a place for quiet reflection in Shiloh Park. There are also walking trails, opportunities to observe nature, and a designated stop for non-motorized boaters. If you’re looking for a hotel in Zion, these themes can help you decide what kind of trip you want before you book.

Zion’s History at Two Sites

Lake Mound Cemetery is located at the southeast corner of Sheridan Road and 29th Street. Reverend John Alexander Dowie, the founder of Zion, is buried there along with his wife and their two children. The cemetery is also the final resting place of veterans of four of the country’s wars. The site thus combines remembrance of the founding family with a military history perspective.

Shiloh House adds a residential building to this perspective. The 25-room mansion was built in 1901 as the residence of the city’s founder. In Zion, these two different forms of remembrance stand side by side: the founder’s former home and a cemetery where his family and veterans of four wars are buried.

A Place for Quiet Reflection in Shiloh Park

Esther’s Well is located in Shiloh Park beneath the oak trees and is a peaceful place for reflection, healing, and prayer. A ramp leads from the parking lot to the well; there is also a curb cut for wheelchairs and walkers. The site is accessible to everyone. For travelers who use a wheelchair or walker, the ramp and curb cut provide specific information about access.

Walks, Water, and Nature

Hosah Park in Zion is a designated stop for non-motorized boaters. You can go ashore there to rest, hike, or picnic before heading back out on the water. The park also offers opportunities for walks and birdwatching, as well as to experience its flora, fauna, and cooling lake breeze.

David Park offers a 0.50-mile loop trail for walking. In the area around Zion, Illinois Beach was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1980. The Illinois Beach Nature Preserve has a nature center, a trail system, and a trail guide. A route from Zion to the preserve is about one mile long. These figures refer to different routes: 0.50 miles is the length of the loop trail in David Park, while about one mile describes the route from Zion to the preserve.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

For planning purposes, the activities can be distinguished by how they are used: Hosah Park is geared toward non-motorized boaters, David Park has a walking loop with a specified length, and the Nature Preserve combines a nature center with a trail system. This makes it easier to decide whether you’d like to include a stop on the water, a walk, or nature-focused facilities in your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lake Forest, Deerfield, Lake Zurich, North Chicago, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Deer Park

For the broader travel overview: Lake.