Food Traveler Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 150

Landmark Cafe & Creperie Photo courtesy of Phil Dickinson MiDwEsT Chez Willy's on Seminary Street Photo courtesy of Kent Kreigshauser Photography Chez Willy's on Seminary Street Photo courtesy of Kent Kreigshauser Photography Galesburg, IL Downtown Galesburg is an ever- changing landscape of cool. While many small cities have declining busi- ness districts, ours is alive and well. There are over 20 locally-owned restaurants that provide everything from farm to table to sushi. Our downtown boasts a rich arts community that is closely aligned with Knox College, a prestigious Liberal Arts institution with an international appeal. Because of Knox’s influence we have the Knox Galesburg Sym- phony, the Rootabaga Jazz Festival, Nova Singers, the Galesburg Civic Art Center, two box theatres and “Gales- burg’s Jewel,” the Orpheum Theatre. From Monday to Sunday, our com- munity is alive with a rich music scene that rivals any throughout America. From eye-opening “open mics” to artists from around the world, Gales- burg is always filled with quality music covering the spectrums of genres. Leading movements is not new to Galesburg. The first abolitionist soci- ety in Illinois was founded in Gales- burg. In 1858, the 5th Lincoln-Douglas Debate happened in Galesburg to a crowd of over 15,000. And, President William McKinley held the only cabi- net meeting to ever happen outside of Washington D. C. at the Clark E. Carr House in 1891. Galesburg is also the birthplace of three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln biog- rapher and poet, Carl Sandburg. His ashes are interred under Re- membrance Rock in the garden of the birthplace site. Our downtown boasts the wonder- ful Discovery Depot Children’s mu- seum, the Galesburg Railroad Museum and Seminary Street His- toric Shopping District. From an- tiques to free-trade coffee this district within our downtown has a unique flavor. Best of all, our down- town is served by four round-trip trains a day to Chicago and two trains that can take you all the way to California. Designated by Con- gress as the sight of the National Railroad Hall of Fame, our down- town will be thriving for decades to come.