I&M Canal NHC at 30: Utica sunset

Since Starved Rock is the crown jewel of Illinois state parks, it needs a gateway town as the major national parks have, such as Gatlinburg outside of Smoky Mountain national Park.

Starved Rock has one, North Utica, but it usually just goes by Utica.

After spending time at Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park, I drove north at dusk to that gateway.

I've seen many YouTube videos of boat motors inciting Asian carp--which comprise 70 percent of the fish biomass of the Illinois River--to madly jump out of the water. But this boat and all of the others I saw on the Illinois failed to send the invasive species airborne.

In the background is Plum Island.

Moonrise over Dee Bennett Road. Later that night there was a total lunar eclipse.

Sunset on the Illinois River.

Our old friend, the Illinois & Michigan Canal, has been missing for the last several National Heritage Corridor posts, but here it is in the center of Utica.

Next: Wild Bill Hickok

Earlier I&M Canal NHC at 30: posts:

• Channahon State Park
• Briscoe Mounds
• Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
• Morris
• Seneca
• Marseilles
• Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial
• Ottawa
• Buffalo Rock State Park
• Starved Rock State Park's east end
• Starved Rock State Park--the Rock
• Starved Rock State Park--sad site on the west end
• Matthiessen State Park--Dells Area
• Matthiessen State Park--River Area