Walkable Downtown Tour Tuesday In St. Charles

ST. CHARLES, IL – In honor of Illinois’ bicentennial year, the downtown St. Charles Partnership and the St. Charles History Museum are hosting their inaugural Walkable Downtown Tour at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. The tour will begin at the Carnegie Community Room in the St. Charles Public Library and take participants on a walk through history to learn about 27 locations in St. Charles’ Historic District, according to a news release.

All locations have a numbered sign with information and a photograph about the location. The numbers help to keep participants on the trail to all the locations, while also giving them the history of the location, according to a news release. For those who can't wait for the official Aug. 28 walking tour, the walkable downtown signs are currently in place, making it possible for residents to take a self-guided tour.

Sites on the tour include the St. Charles Public Library: Carnegie Room, Rockwell House, McCornack Oil Co. Building, Arcada Theatre 1926 & Club Arcada, the Osgood Building, Main Street Bridge and more. A map and more information on the sites can be found on the St. Charles History Museum's website.

St. Charles History Museum Director Alison Costanzo said the new historic tour provides St. Charles visitors with a great experience.

“We really want to encourage people to walk in St. Charles’ downtown,” Costanzo said. “What’s great about the tour is it’s not something that you need your phone or technology for. You’re right there and get to be in the moment.”

A collaboration between the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, St. Charles History Museum, city of St. Charles and the St. Charles Historic Preservation Commission made the walking tour a possibility.