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Marseilles
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A Bustling County Seat
The I&M Canal and fertile farmland made Morris an important center
for
agriculture, industry, trade and government. Today, it is a prosperous
county seat which retains its historic downtown and small town feeling.
Native Prairie
Early travelers described Illinois’ native prairie as “a sea
of tall grasses” extending as far as the eye could see. Just south
of Morris is Goose Lake Prairie State Park, the largest prairie remnant
in Illinois. Its grasses and wildflowers provide animal habitat and a
reminder of the landscape inhabited by Native Americans hundreds of years
ago.
A Glimpse of Nature
Adjacent
to downtown Morris, keep an eye out for heron, egret, beaver and other
birds and animals at Gebhard Woods State Park, which houses the main office
for the I&M Canal State Trail. The park includes a playground, limited
campsites, fishing ponds and a scenic stretch of canal trail.
©2002 Canal Corridor Association