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Cities Along the Trail

Events Along the Trail

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Welcome to Eureka

Eureka, population 5000, is proud to be the college alma mater of President Ronald Reagan. “Dutch” entered Eureka College in the fall of 1928 where during his four years he lettered in football, track, and swimming as well as being in theatre before earning his degrees in economics and sociology. He was in student government and became the president in his senior year. Reagan was also a member of the dramatic fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Sigma.
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Sites to Visit

Markers & Monuments


Sites to Visit

Red Listing - Official Reagan Site

Cemetery Walk
Olio Cemetery, S. Main St., Eureka, IL
September 28, 2008, 3 PM. Visit the gravesites of 6 historically important Eurekans. Members of the Eureka College Drama dept. will portray the prominent people, telling of their lives, dressing in character, and answering questions from the audience which moves from grave to grave. Featured people: Ben Major (his daughter will tell of her father), Elizah Dickinson an early settler and founder of Dickinson Canning, Mahala Clay, killed in the Chatsworth Train Wreck in 1887, Emory Ross personal friend of Albert Schweitzer, Clinton Melick ran local phone co., Edna Mary Brown a local artist, Robert Moody a freed slave and Carl Johann president of Eureka College at turn of the 20th century. Free will offering. FYI Karen Fyke 309-467-4525

Donald B. Cerf Center
300 E. College Ave., Eureka, IL - 309-467-6407
The Ronald Reagan Exhibit located in the Cerf Center contains over 2000 items from Ronald’s college days, his movie career, his eight years as governor of California, his campaign for the presidency and his two terms in office. The items came to the college in 1975 at the request of President Reagan. FREE

Illinois Mennonite Historical & Genealogical Society
675 State Rt. 116, Metamora, IL 61548-7732, Eureka, IL
Home of the museum complex, Mennonite archives and historical and genealogical research library.

Website: imhgs.org

Metamora Court House
Metamora, IL, 113 East Partridge, Metamora, Eureka, IL - (309)367-4470
The Metamora Courthouse was built in 1845 and served as the center of county government until the county seat was moved to Eureka in 1896. It is one of two surviving courthouses on the historic Eighth Judicial Circuit traveled by Abraham Lincoln. National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Website: www.illinoishistory.gov/hs/metamora_courthouse.htm


Historic Markers and Monuments

Red Listing - Official Reagan Site

Eureka Sesquicentennial Pictoral History
Eureka, IL
Woodford Couty Historical Society will publish a pictorial history. Available summer of 2009 can be pre-ordered for $37.50 plus $6.00 shipping. The coffee table sized book will give an overview of Eureka's history. To order send a check or money order to Woodford County Historical Society, 112 N. Main, Eureka, IL 61530. Note "sesqui book" on check.

Peace Garden
Eureka College Campus, 300 E. College Ave., Eureka, IL - 309-467-6407
The garden contains a bust of President Regan and a portion of the Berlin Wall and commemorates Reagan’s 1982 “Eureka Speech” where he announced for the first time his goal for a strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). This speech is considered the beginning of the end for the Cold War.