Matthiessen State Park
Encyclopedia
Matthiessen State Park is an Illinois
state park
located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park
. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178.
The park is near Oglesby
, in LaSalle County, Illinois
, USA. It is named for Frederick William Matthiessen, who had originally owned the property and managed it as a private park. The area was originally referred to as Deer Park, in reference to the large deer population. The park was donated to Illinois following Matthiessen's death, and was renamed in his honor in 1943. The name Deer Park Dells remains a nickname among locals.
The park is centered around a stream that flows from Matthiessen Lake to the Vermilion River
. The stream has cut partway through the sandstone layers, leaving interesting rock formations and drops. The Upper Dells begin at Matthiessen Lake with the Lake Falls, which drop into the canyon below, and continue downstream to the 45 feet (13.7 m) Cascade Falls where the Lower Dells begin.
It is also a popular tourist place for cross country skiing.
Fortunate park visitors may see bald eagles at this park since it is situated close to the Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary
.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is a state park in Illinois, characterized by the many canyons within its 2360 acres. Located just southwest of the village of North Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors...
. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178.
The park is near Oglesby
Oglesby, Illinois
Oglesby is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,791 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Schools:...
, in LaSalle County, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, USA. It is named for Frederick William Matthiessen, who had originally owned the property and managed it as a private park. The area was originally referred to as Deer Park, in reference to the large deer population. The park was donated to Illinois following Matthiessen's death, and was renamed in his honor in 1943. The name Deer Park Dells remains a nickname among locals.
The park is centered around a stream that flows from Matthiessen Lake to the Vermilion River
Vermilion River (Illinois River tributary)
The Vermilion River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the state of Illinois, United States. The river flows north, in contrast to a second Vermilion River in Illinois, which flows south to the Wabash River...
. The stream has cut partway through the sandstone layers, leaving interesting rock formations and drops. The Upper Dells begin at Matthiessen Lake with the Lake Falls, which drop into the canyon below, and continue downstream to the 45 feet (13.7 m) Cascade Falls where the Lower Dells begin.
It is also a popular tourist place for cross country skiing.
Fortunate park visitors may see bald eagles at this park since it is situated close to the Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary
Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary
The Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary is a 52-acre island in the Illinois River owned by the Illinois Audubon Society. It was purchased in 2004 to act as a wildlife sanctuary, to encourage and support the nesting and breeding of the bald eagle...
.