Walking Tour of Heritage Quarries and I&M Canal
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The first tour begins at the gazebo on the canal, near the end of the new Heritage Quarries parking lot. Your group and guide will walk along the Illinois & Michigan Canal on the way to view three quarries. On the tour you will learn about the construction and use of the I&M Canal and see the ruins of a brick kiln. The history of Lemont limestone, the quarry industry and its workers will be covered as you view three beautiful spring-fed quarries. You may even see small mammals and waterfowl along the route. Historical photos of canal boats, quarry equipment and workers, will be shown to give you a sense of the hustle and bustle of the canal and quarries in their heyday.
Tour Length: Approximately 1 hour ~ Approximately 3/4 mile Tour Difficulty: Moderate. A crushed gravel trail runs along the canal and quarries with some inclines. The 2nd tour is a longer tour around all the quarries. It starts in the same place. More experienced tour guides such as Doris Peterman and George Scheel usually lead this route and add naturalist information about wildlife. The longer route comes back past the east end of Consumers's Quarry. and is about two miles long. Tour Length:Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes ~ Approximately 2 miles Tour Difficulty: Harder than the previous tour. It requires better physical condition. Pictures are courtesy of Richard Lee |