Marion is a city of nearly 15,000 people, with many churches,
beautiful homes, attractive malls and other shopping centers, active
civic organizations, ample doctors and dentists, daily and weekly
newspapers, and complete municipal services.
Local educational needs are well met with public and private schools,
John A. Logan Junior College, and special educational facilities. Rend
Lake Junior College is on the edge of Rend Lake, just off I-57 at Ina.
Southern Illinois University is just16 miles west in Carbondale.
The Marion Cultural Center is
located in a beautifully maintained 1920 theater building.
The County Museum in Marion contains 17 rooms of interesting
exhibits, including an old-fashioned
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schoolroom. Frankfort Area
Historical Museum is housed in an old preserved school building. In
West Frankfort is the Depot Veteran's Museum, a restored railroad
station with memorabilia of all 20th century wars.
Saline County Museum in Harrisburg
is a 170-acre complex with authentic log buildings and recreations
of an old-time store, post office and print shop. Antique shops also
appeal to those interested in things of historic value, and southern
Illinois is a treasure trove of such places, offering a wide variety
of collectibles.
Special events and festivals occur
throughout the year. The area is noted for its Sporting Dog Field
Trials during the spring and fall, when expert retrievers, beagles
and bird dogs compete for honors.
July finds many people attending
the Rend Lake Fireworks Festival. During August are Whittington Gun
Creek Days and Jam on the Dam, a varied musical extravaganza at Rend
Lake. September brings the Cedarhurst Arts & Crafts Festival in Mt.
Vernon.
Rend Lake is
host to Water Festival Pageants and Armed Forces/Police Memorial Day,
with military aircraft displays and flyovers, among other exciting
activities.
Numerous
fall events include the Heritage Fest at Southeastern Illinois Junior
College outside Harrisburg, the Annual 30-Day Controlled Pheasant
Hunt, Williamson County Fair in Marion, National Fishing & Hunting
Days in Carterville, the Country Fest in Marion, and the Autumn Fest
Arts & Crafts Fair on John A. Logan Junior College campus.
Toward the end of the
year, residents are involved in the Christmas Open House and Christmas
Stroll in Sesser, and Candy Cane Lane in West Frankfort, among other
holiday festivities. |
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