Isle a la Cache Museum
Isle a la Cache Museum stands on a small Des Plaines River island in Romeoville, IL, less than a mile off the old Route 66 corridor. Run by Will County's Forest Preserve District, it focuses on the fur trade that shaped the Chicago region in the 1700s, when French voyageurs and the Potawatomi people met along these waterways. Its exhibits are aimed at families, and especially at children.
What is Isle a la Cache Museum?
The museum is a stand-alone building on Isle a la Cache itself, a river island reached from Illinois Route 53. The Centennial Trail and the I&M Canal Trail pass by as well, so walkers and cyclists can arrive without a car.
Its purpose is teaching. The county forest preserve district built the museum's program around young visitors, and the displays introduce the fur-trading past of Will County and the wider Chicago area in plain, family-friendly terms.
History of Isle a la Cache Museum
Long before highways, rivers carried people and goods through this region. In the 18th century the land along the Des Plaines was part of what the French called the Illinois Country. Voyageurs, the paddlers and porters of the fur trade, traveled these waters, and the Potawatomi lived here and traded with them. The museum presents that meeting of cultures as an adventure in local history, a very different kind of travel story from the one Route 66 tells.
Visiting Isle a la Cache Museum: tips
The museum is less than a mile off the old road, a short drive from the Joliet area and from the old road's path through Will County. Restrooms are on site, and families with children are its core audience, so it suits a break on a long driving day. Allow about an hour for the exhibits and a look at the river. Nearby, the Ron George Round Barn is about 1.7 miles away, and the Fitzpatrick House is about 2.7 miles off.
Practical info
- Address
- 501 East Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL 60446
- Phone
- +1 815-722-9301
- Hours
- Wed–Sun 10–4
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Isle a la Cache Museum
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapIsle a la Cache Museum with the 6 closest stops and a place to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Stops near Isle a la Cache Museum
All of Illinois
1.7 mi from Isle a la Cache Museum
2.7 mi from Isle a la Cache Museum
2.7 mi from Isle a la Cache Museum
3.3 mi from Isle a la Cache Museum
3.4 mi from Isle a la Cache Museum
3.5 mi from Isle a la Cache Museum
Questions about Isle a la Cache Museum
Where is Isle a la Cache Museum?
On a small Des Plaines River island in Romeoville, IL, reached from Illinois Route 53 and from the Centennial Trail and I&M Canal Trail.
Who runs Isle a la Cache Museum?
Will County's Forest Preserve District.
Is the museum good for kids?
Yes. Its main goal is to teach visitors, especially children, about the region's fur-trading past.
Own or run Isle a la Cache Museum? Send us a photo or a correction.