Perry County: Nature, History and Events

For a trip connected to Perry County, nature, local history and event dates offer different areas of focus. In Perry County, Pyramid State Recreation Area, historic buildings and museums, and recurring events provide places to start. Pinckneyville City Lake is a distinct nature attraction. If you’re looking for a hotel, first decide whether landscapes and water, architecture and collections, or a specific event will shape your stay.

Nature and Water

Pyramid State Recreation Area consists of wooded hills, lakes and ponds. Pinckneyville City Lake is a reservoir covering 165 acres. The two nature experiences offer different highlights: one centers on a landscape of forests, hills and several types of water, while the other focuses on a single, clearly named body of water.

Pinckneyville City Lake has specific rules for boats: the maximum motor power is 10 horsepower, and boats must travel at idle speed without creating a wake. Check these requirements before heading out by boat. The lake’s facilities include a concrete boat ramp, a paved parking lot, a floating dock, a fishing pier, a covered pavilion and portable toilets. Visitor facilities can change, so check which ones are relevant to your plans before your visit.

Architecture and Historic Sites

Paradise Baptist Church in Tamaroa, Illinois, in Perry County, is considered an important local example of Late Gothic Revival architecture and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Its architectural features include pointed-arch openings, tracery windows, thick, solid sandstone and buttresses. The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds are located in Du Quoin in Perry County and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The status of the two sites differs: the church is described as eligible for listing, while the fairgrounds are actually listed on the register.

The Perry County Jail Museum is housed in the former Perry County Jail, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was constructed in 1871. The museum displays a one-room schoolhouse, clothing, furniture and other 19th-century artifacts. The museum brings together architectural history, the building’s former use as a jail and historical everyday objects.

Museums and Event Dates

Exhibits at the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum, housed in a distinctive red horse barn, change seasonally. If you want to plan your trip around a particular exhibit, check its current status in advance. Groups can book guided tours ahead of time; arrange the details before you arrive.

Pinckneyville holds its Mardi Gras celebration every year on the last Friday and Saturday in October. If the date is important to your trip, check the specific event dates before planning around it. The Du Quoin State Fair is also held annually and focuses on agricultural topics and events in the state of Illinois. Dates and programming may change, so it’s a good idea to check before your trip.

The Du Quoin State Fair includes the Illinois Product Expo, featuring products made locally and grown in Illinois. The selection of exhibitors may vary from year to year. Shore fishing is also available along the Long Cut at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Alongside the event themes, regional products and a specific fishing opportunity offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Du Quoin, Pinckneyville, Jo Daviess County, Lake, Fayette County, Monroe County, Will County, Vermilion.

See the main travel overview: Illinois.