I took a solo road trip this weekend. Along Route 34, just outside of Galesburg, the fields are littered with old barns and wind turbines. As I drove, I caught myself imagining (my imagination runs wild on solo car trips) the stories that these fields hold. The stories of countless hours of farming, late nights spent in the field away from families, dinners shared around kitchen tables, and farms that have been passed down for generations. This is the very heart of the heartland, a marrying mix of old and new, rich in history, and soaked in the stories that have led to the present. Tucked among these cornfields is a tiny town with a big heart,
Bishop Hill. With a tiny population of just 123, what this town may lack in size it makes up with an abundance of character.
There was something about this town that felt slower, and beckoned me to be in the moment, so that's what I did. There aren't that many pictures to show you because I was caught up in experiencing this town.
First stop for me was the pottery place, Hantverk Galleri. I was greeted by a giant, friendly black dog who was very excited to have a visitor. Everything was handmade, and there was a viewing section in part of the store so you could watch the handcrafted painting process.
The Bishop Hill Creative Commons was just a few steps away. This is a hub of creativity - they offer classes on the weekends and have several artisan booths set up with items to purchase. There are so many talented artisans and beautiful creations here. They also offer some pretty amazing concerts at this location. Before every concert they have a community potluck - all are welcome!. I love this concept of mixing creativity and community, and I will be going back ASAP to check out a concert.
The Colony Store is the go to place for coffee lovers! They have a wide variety of fresh ground coffees, candies, Swedish foods, and all the Dala horses!
The Bishop Hill Museum is home of the paintings of Olof Krans. Olof traveled with his family from Sweden to the Bishop Hill Colony. He painted childhood memories and paintings of communal life. More of his paintings are on exhibit at Bishop Hill Heritage's Steeple Building Museum (which was closed the day I visited).
Bishop Hill is a small town, rich in heritage and weaved together with community. This town has heart because of the kindness that they gift to others - people who live here, who make their living here, telling their stories and sharing their hearts.
Bishop Hill festivals and calendar of events - www.bishophillheritage.org
Concerts & workshops at Bishop Hill Creative Commons - www.bishophillcommons.com
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