Art Culture & Heritage

The original building was constructed in 1910 as a Ford franchise and garage. It has been restored to its original condition and still has 2 sets of garage pulley systems that were used to power several mechanical devices. It has vintage signs and a clock-face gas pump. The list of vintage cars includes a 1912 Model T "Huckster" that belonged to gangster, Charlie Birger, the last convicted criminal to be hanged in Illinois, a 1914 Model T Touring Vehicle, a 1916 Dort Automobile, a 1926 Model T "Doctor's Coup" Automobile, a 1928 Chevrolet Roadster, a 1931 Hupmobile, a carriage from the 1880s and more. 

Admission Free / Donations Accepted

Call or check website for seasonal hours. Please verify before travel. This information is provided as a courtesy and is subject to change.

The 1910 Franklin County Garage & Auto Museum is only 5 miles south of Rend Lake and just North of the Benton Square on IL 37 and 14.

The Frankfort Area Historical Museum is in the former two story brick Logan School! It features area coal mining history featuring mines and minerals. Memorabilia from 1802-1976 includes a vintage phonograph player and 1950 television. Memorabilia is set up with themes to make displays interesting and attractive. Visit the genealogy library, a quilting room, the pioneer kitchen, an art and music room and the Red Geranium Tea Room that serves homemade lunch.

Admission Free / Donations Accepted 

Call or check facebook for seasonal hours or to make a reservation for the Red Geranium Tea Room.

Please verify before travel. This information is provided as a courtesy and is subject to change.

The Frankfort Area Historical Museum is only 10 miles south of Rend Lake, just east of Interstate 57 Exit 65 then east on IL-149. 

The Silkwood Inn was built in 1827 by Brazilla Silkwood on the Shawneetown-Kaskaskia- St. Louis Trail. It served as a home for his family and also an Inn for travelers. A tour through this amazing Inn includes the telling of a famous legend based both in fact and local folklore. While on a business trip to the south, Brazilla met a slave girl named Priscilla. Then in 1838 Priscilla was traveling through Jonesboro Illinois as the property of a Native American Chief on the Trail of Tears. When Brazilla saw her as part of the Trail of Tears, he bought her and set her free to live as a member of his family until her death in 1892.

Admission Free / Donations Accepted 

Call to schedule a tour or to check event schedules and seasonal hours. 

Please verify before travel. This information is provided as a courtesy and is subject to change.

The Silkwood Inn is only 10 miles southwest of Rend Lake, off IL State Highway 14. 

The 1905 Franklin County Jail Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The displays in this amazing museum houses memorabilia from The Beatles' George Harrison's first trip to the United States to visit his sister Louise in Benton Illinois, to actor John Malkovich, basketball star Doug Collins, Civil War General John A. Logan and gangster Charlie Birger, the last convicted criminal to be hanged in Illinois. See actual jail cells used to house Charlie Birger and a replica of the noose and gallows used to hang him. .

Admission $4.00 / Donations Accepted 

Please verify before travel. This information is provided as a courtesy and is subject to change.

The 1905 Franklin County Jail Museum is only 5 miles south of Rend Lake, just West of the Benton Square on IL 14

" George Comes to Benton - 1963." This mural installation commemorates the first visit by a Beatle to America several months ahead of the British rock group's big splash in the US. It is located along Interstate 57 north of Benton.