THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

THOMPSONVILLE, IL

Aiming for Akin Akin Junction is the location that piqued my interest with the Eldorado Sub, being the first shot I ever saw of it. These old wooden trestles bridge the Eldorado sub across the road and connect into the Bluford Sub. Our short L588 will now leave the Eldorado sub, join the Bluford and head a short ways south, then rejoin the Eldorado at another junction just south of a nearby siding. The wooden trestle are very eye catching and along with the Benton feed mill were my primary focus for shooting the local. The sun wasn't at the best angle for it, but hey, you work with what you've got. Akin is a very neat spot, and one I'd gladly return to.
Aiming for Akin Credit: Leo Blackwelder

The Thompsonville Historical Museum is a small museum located in Thompsonville, Illinois. It's a non-profit oraganization that was established in the late 1970s to preserve the history and artifacts of the town and surrounding areas. The museum is housed in a former bank building, which was built in the early 1900s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum's collection includes a variety of items, such as photographs, documents, clothing, tools, and household items, all of which are related to the history of Thompsonville and the surrounding areas. The exhibits are organized thematically, covering topics such as early settlers, the development of the town, mining, agriculture, and transportation.

The museum also hosts various events and programs throughout the year, such as lectures, workshops, and community events. They also offer tours of the museum for school groups and other organizations.

Overall, the Thompsonville Historical Museum is a small but important institution that plays a crucial role in preserving the history and heritage of the town and surrounding areas. It's a must-visit destination for anyone interested in local history.

THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in THOMPSONVILLE IL. US MID #8401700055

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).

Aiming for Akin Akin Junction is the location that piqued my interest with the Eldorado Sub, being the first shot I ever saw of it. These old wooden trestles bridge the Eldorado sub across the road and connect into the Bluford Sub. Our short L588 will now leave the Eldorado sub, join the Bluford and head a short ways south, then rejoin the Eldorado at another junction just south of a nearby siding. The wooden trestle are very eye catching and along with the Benton feed mill were my primary focus for shooting the local. The sun wasn't at the best angle for it, but hey, you work with what you've got. Akin is a very neat spot, and one I'd gladly return to.
Vanta Black I was drawn farther south into Illinois for two reasons - a local train, and a total solar eclipse. I know everyone and their mother went out for this thing, but it was just the most incredible sight. There really is nothing comparable to totality. The 360 degree sunset, the cool air, darkened skies, and that blacker than black orb in the sky that causes it all. My, what an absolute treat. I'd initially hoped to frame the eclipse with something, say a locomotive or crossbuck, but I ultimately didn't. Time and place didn't work for that, nor did I have anything I was really inspired by. I'd rather just see the eclipse instead of running around and wasting my four minutes trying to secure a different photo. So, the telephoto lens straight up it was. I'm happy with that - miles better than my last attempt at shooting the 2017 eclipse! I had just finished shooting CN L588 at Eldorado and decided to head back to Akin Junction, and I wound up viewing the eclipse at Darrel's Snack Shack just outside of the village. Quite the viewing location! A good crowd had formed there but no extreme traffic. Going rural for the viewing was a great choice. I'm so glad I got to experience this eclipse. I ended up getting all I was hoping for when I drove down to southern Illinois - you couldn't ask for a better day!
Beat it to Benton During another day of scouring Flickr, I happened across a photo of CN L588. I was intrigued, and searching for more photos just led me to want to go ahead and get down there to shoot it. I was interested in the Eldorado Sub, and further research suggested that is a Monday-only thing. It was also a decent length drive to do, so I was hesitant to pull the trigger on something that may not be totally correct. Well, then I checked my calender, and it turns out there just so happened to be a solar eclipse in that very area on a Monday. Oh, how we love a good coincidence. Figuring I'd get either one or both, I set off early in the morning, eager to beat the eclipse traffic. I did! I even beat it here in Benton, IL. Benton's feed mill and diamond here is probably the go-to shot for this Centralia-Eldorado local, and for good reason. It's an excellent bit of industrial scenery that many small towns have lost over the years yet has survived here. Benton was also one of, if not the, best places to be for the solar eclipse, as it saw totality for nearly 4m10s, about the highest for our neck of the woods. Safe to say it was jam-packed! But not over by the mill - how handy! GTW5861 is our solo power for this 3-car local. Its CN dress is a little ragged with that big patch on the nose and little bit more wheeze on the horn than is ideal, but this ex-Rock Island GP38-2 is still earning her keep after 45 years.
Eclipse Picnic I think this is just after totality.
The Return of the Sun This is the tiniest fragment peeking out after totality--and already overwhelming my phone's camera.
Watching Totality
Jim at the Total Eclipse
Eden & Ellie at Totality
Total Eclipse Horizon It was like a 360-degree sunset.
Total Eclipse This photo does it no justice, of course. One of the striking things about the total eclipse is how sharp-edged the disc is, actually.
Total Eclipse and Venus We could see Jupiter too--Mars and Saturn were behind clouds, we think.
West City Eclipse Fans at Totality

Contact THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
CORNER OF PECAN AND DIVISION STREETS
THOMPSONVILLE
IL
62890

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THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM Information

MID # 8401700055
Name THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Alternate Name THOMPSONVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Classification Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Midwest
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
NTEECC
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)
INCOME 0
REVENUE 0
LAT/LONG 37.885316, -88.758774
CODES FIPS State Code: 17
FIPS County Code: 055
US Census Tract: 041200
US Census Block: 3161