Pontiac
#Play in Pontiac!
Looking for a perfect place to get-a-way? Visit us in Pontiac! Located in central Illinois, Pontiac is a great place to spend the day, or even better, a multi-day vacation/staycation!
Love the great outdoors? Check out The Pontiac Golf Course (formerly the Elks Club). This beautiful Champion 18-hole course has multiple tees and is suited for players of all levels. Head to downtown where along the banks of the Vermilion River in Humiston-Riverside Park is a community band shell with entertainment all summer long. The kiddos will enjoy an awesome splashpad, fun playground equipment, and plenty of room to run! The Vermilion River flows through town and is crossed by three swinging pedestrian bridges offering a unique wobbly, walking experience. Chautauqua Park houses a championship Disk Golf Course, and a historic pavilion used for performances by our community theater group, The Vermillion Players. A walk along the river will help you get your steps in while admiring the beauty of mother nature! Just outside of city limits is the Humiston Woods Nature Preserve which includes 335 acres of forest, 8 acres of prairie, and 7 hiking trails-open sunrise to sunset 365 days a year.
Calling all artist and art lovers – downtown Pontiac will quickly become your new happy place! Pontiac has over 25 large, colorful, outdoor murals created by a talented group of artists known as the Walldogs. Simply follow the red footprints from mural to mural for a walking tour with nostalgic charm! Our collection of miniature art cars is scattered around the downtown sidewalks – each one created by a local artist or group, great for family pictures and selfies! The Pontiac Community Art Center is a studio, teaching space, gallery, and retail sales outlet for locally produced work. Pontiac is also home to the one-of-a-kind Museum of the Gilding Arts. Created by the International Society of Gilders, the museum focuses on the history, craft and art of using precious metal in design and decor. The Swift Collection, a recreation of a gold leaf manufacturer from the late 1800’s, is also on exhibit.
With a name like Pontiac, of course we love cars! You’ll also love and appreciate our one-of-a-kind museum: The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center. With classic Oaklands and cool Pontiacs, this museum is the only museum dedicated to just these two automobile brands. The museum is also home to one of the largest collections of oil cans and antique road maps around.
History Buff? We’ve got you covered! The Pontiac Museum Complex houses a variety of exhibits and displays:
• The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum offers a collection of images, artifacts, and stories about the nation’s most famous road – Route 66. Stories related to internationally famous Route 66 artist and icon Bob Waldmire; including his school bus home ‘The Road Yacht’, VW Microbus, and a gallery of artwork.
• The Livingston County War Museum is staffed entirely by volunteer veterans. This museum pays tribute to the men and women from Livingston County who served in the nation’s military since World War I.
• Selle - Agner Exhibits – Ron Selle and Darlene Agner, curators
- The Life in the 1940s – Featuring four rooms, completely furnished with furniture and toys of the era. Be sure to stop into the "Stage Door Canteen" to enjoy some vintage,1940s music.
- The Life on the Titanic - This exhibit portrays the life and times of the ship, its passengers, and the elegant Edwardian Age. The items on display are contemporaries of those that sank on the famed ship as well as items from the rescue ship.
- The Music of the Civil War – Learn about the music that was popular in the nation in the Antebellum period, during the war itself, and post war. There are framed original editions of sheet music, a display with a few antique musical instruments, and of course, recorded versions of those songs.
Most famously, the city has many connections to our nation’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Follow the Looking for Lincoln Story Trail and learn more about this important historical figure and his connection to Pontiac. Located on the south lawn of the Historic Courthouse is a life-size commemorative statue of Honest Abe himself – another great selfie spot awaits!
Let Us Entertain You! Enjoy our Rockin @ the River concert series; fall fairs, summer festivals and Hometown Holiday Christmas events; ice skating; farmers markets; car shows and cruise nights; historic home tours; dining el fresco, farm to table meals, old-time bakery, specialty coffees and wine tasting; unique shopping; summer plays; movie theater and our crown jewel - The Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center. The Eagle offers dinner theater, concerts, conferences, receptions as well as other special events.
Pontiac Tourism
115 W. Howard St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 844-5847
http://www.visitpontiac.org
Read MoreLooking for a perfect place to get-a-way? Visit us in Pontiac! Located in central Illinois, Pontiac is a great place to spend the day, or even better, a multi-day vacation/staycation!
Love the great outdoors? Check out The Pontiac Golf Course (formerly the Elks Club). This beautiful Champion 18-hole course has multiple tees and is suited for players of all levels. Head to downtown where along the banks of the Vermilion River in Humiston-Riverside Park is a community band shell with entertainment all summer long. The kiddos will enjoy an awesome splashpad, fun playground equipment, and plenty of room to run! The Vermilion River flows through town and is crossed by three swinging pedestrian bridges offering a unique wobbly, walking experience. Chautauqua Park houses a championship Disk Golf Course, and a historic pavilion used for performances by our community theater group, The Vermillion Players. A walk along the river will help you get your steps in while admiring the beauty of mother nature! Just outside of city limits is the Humiston Woods Nature Preserve which includes 335 acres of forest, 8 acres of prairie, and 7 hiking trails-open sunrise to sunset 365 days a year.
Calling all artist and art lovers – downtown Pontiac will quickly become your new happy place! Pontiac has over 25 large, colorful, outdoor murals created by a talented group of artists known as the Walldogs. Simply follow the red footprints from mural to mural for a walking tour with nostalgic charm! Our collection of miniature art cars is scattered around the downtown sidewalks – each one created by a local artist or group, great for family pictures and selfies! The Pontiac Community Art Center is a studio, teaching space, gallery, and retail sales outlet for locally produced work. Pontiac is also home to the one-of-a-kind Museum of the Gilding Arts. Created by the International Society of Gilders, the museum focuses on the history, craft and art of using precious metal in design and decor. The Swift Collection, a recreation of a gold leaf manufacturer from the late 1800’s, is also on exhibit.
With a name like Pontiac, of course we love cars! You’ll also love and appreciate our one-of-a-kind museum: The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center. With classic Oaklands and cool Pontiacs, this museum is the only museum dedicated to just these two automobile brands. The museum is also home to one of the largest collections of oil cans and antique road maps around.
History Buff? We’ve got you covered! The Pontiac Museum Complex houses a variety of exhibits and displays:
• The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum offers a collection of images, artifacts, and stories about the nation’s most famous road – Route 66. Stories related to internationally famous Route 66 artist and icon Bob Waldmire; including his school bus home ‘The Road Yacht’, VW Microbus, and a gallery of artwork.
• The Livingston County War Museum is staffed entirely by volunteer veterans. This museum pays tribute to the men and women from Livingston County who served in the nation’s military since World War I.
• Selle - Agner Exhibits – Ron Selle and Darlene Agner, curators
- The Life in the 1940s – Featuring four rooms, completely furnished with furniture and toys of the era. Be sure to stop into the "Stage Door Canteen" to enjoy some vintage,1940s music.
- The Life on the Titanic - This exhibit portrays the life and times of the ship, its passengers, and the elegant Edwardian Age. The items on display are contemporaries of those that sank on the famed ship as well as items from the rescue ship.
- The Music of the Civil War – Learn about the music that was popular in the nation in the Antebellum period, during the war itself, and post war. There are framed original editions of sheet music, a display with a few antique musical instruments, and of course, recorded versions of those songs.
Most famously, the city has many connections to our nation’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Follow the Looking for Lincoln Story Trail and learn more about this important historical figure and his connection to Pontiac. Located on the south lawn of the Historic Courthouse is a life-size commemorative statue of Honest Abe himself – another great selfie spot awaits!
Let Us Entertain You! Enjoy our Rockin @ the River concert series; fall fairs, summer festivals and Hometown Holiday Christmas events; ice skating; farmers markets; car shows and cruise nights; historic home tours; dining el fresco, farm to table meals, old-time bakery, specialty coffees and wine tasting; unique shopping; summer plays; movie theater and our crown jewel - The Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center. The Eagle offers dinner theater, concerts, conferences, receptions as well as other special events.
Pontiac Tourism
115 W. Howard St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 844-5847
http://www.visitpontiac.org
