Tag Archives: Forest Preserves of Cook County

Taming the Illinois Wilderness

If you’ve walked through County Forest Preserve trails you have some idea of what Northern Illinois looked like before Illinois became a state in 1818. The land was wilderness: woods and grasslands. Native American trails were intended for foot traffic. … Continue reading

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CHIEF SHABBONA – Peacemaker in a Turbulent Chicago

One translation of Shabbona’s name is “Built like a Bear,” and from all reports the name fits. As the picture above shows, he was a tall man, with broad shoulders—a large, muscular man of commanding appearance. He was an important … Continue reading

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FOREST FIRES VS CHICAGO AREA’S SIZZLING SUMMERS

Forest Fires: Why the Chicago Area Doesn’t Have Them “Stop the car! Just stop, now! Look!” Despite that he was driving in bumper to bumper traffic, I insisted that my husband, Chris, see what I was seeing – the most … Continue reading

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