"Southern Illinois University" a Carbondale Travel Page by jepclg98

Located in the heart of beautiful Southern Illinois, Carbondale and the surrounding region offer scenic lakes, a national forest, and abundant recreational opportunities, including two stops along the Southern Illinois Golf Trail. Carbondale is also the front door of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the home of fabulous restaurants serving international cuisine, the retail center for multiple counties, and the region's cultural center, with many stages filled with music, dance, and live theater.

In August 1852, Daniel Harmon Brush, John Asgill Conner, and Dr. William Richart bought 360 acres of land along the right-of-way for the Illinois Central Railroad with the intention of founding a new town. The inspiration for the town's name came from Brush's plans to develop coal-mining operations in the region. The first train through the town on the main line north from Cairo (Ill.) on Independence Day, 1854.

By the end of the Civil War, Carbondale had become not only a regional center for business and transportation, but also an education center with the founding of Carbondale College, which became Southern Illinois College in 1869. Carbondale won the bid for the new teacher training school for the region, and Southern Illinois Normal University opened here in 1874. This gave the town a new industry, new citizens, and a model school to supplement the public schools. By 1947, the college had obtained full university status and the name was changed to Southern Illinois University.

Illinois has many beautiful lakes and Campus Lake at SIUC is one of them. All through the summer months highs here at Campus Lake reach the 80's while night lows are ordinarily in the 60's. During the wintertime highs are regularly in the 30's, and during the dark hours in the winter at Campus Lake temperatures dip to the 20's. If you want a great time in the great outdoors, just come on down to Campus Lake.

Make Carbondale your starting point for exploration, adventure, and a little bit of fun. Start at one of two national parks and end the day dining at one of our many great restaurants downtown. With so many places to explore, Carbondale is the perfect starting point for your vacation.

A rich heritage of culture, education, and history, places Carbondale as the Capital of Southern Illinois.

Starting in Carbondale gives you many choices. All throughout the year you can attend one of several annual events. Just minutes from the Duquoin State Fair, national golf tournaments, and an endless wine trail, there is no short of things to do.