Jubilee College State Park
Encyclopedia
Jubilee College State Park is an Illinois
state park
located 6 miles west of Peoria, Illinois
. It contains Jubilee College State Historic Site, a frontier Illinois college
active from 1840 to 1862.
Jubilee College, and the frontier community that supported it, was founded in 1839 by Episcopal bishop
Philander Chase
. Earlier in his career Chase had founded Kenyon College
in Ohio.
This was one of the earliest educational enterprises in Illinois. After the Bishop's death, the college closed in 1862. In 1933 the college and grounds, then consisting of 93 acres (37.6 ha), were presented to the state of Illinois. The site has since been expanded to 3200 acres (1,295 ha) and includes the original Chase residence and church.
The entire Jubilee College site is still owned by the U.S. state
of Illinois
. The 90 acres (36.4 ha) college grounds are operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
(IAPA), and the surrounding 3100 acres (1,254.5 ha) of open space are operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(DNR).
The State of Illinois offers guided tours of the centerpiece of Jubilee College, the restored 1840s building that housed the school's Episcopal
chapel
, classrooms and dormitory
facilities. One wing contains the recreated schoolmaster's office and library, which also features a video theater and museum exhibits about the college.
The Jubilee College site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972.
Though the state park is still open, the historic site was closed November 30, 2008. Jubilee College State Historic Site, as well as 17 other historic sites and state parks, was closed by former Governor Rod Blagojevich
to help close Illinois' multi-million dollar budget deficit. The park was reopened by Blagojevich's successor, Pat Quinn
, but closed again on October 9, 2009.
Jubilee College State Park contains multi-use trails maintained by volunteer user groups. The trails were originated by equestrian
s but are shared with hikers and mountain bikers.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located 6 miles west of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. It contains Jubilee College State Historic Site, a frontier Illinois college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
active from 1840 to 1862.
Jubilee College, and the frontier community that supported it, was founded in 1839 by Episcopal bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Philander Chase
Philander Chase
Philander Chase was an Episcopal Church bishop, educator, and pioneer of the United States western frontier in Ohio and Illinois.-Life:...
. Earlier in his career Chase had founded Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
in Ohio.
This was one of the earliest educational enterprises in Illinois. After the Bishop's death, the college closed in 1862. In 1933 the college and grounds, then consisting of 93 acres (37.6 ha), were presented to the state of Illinois. The site has since been expanded to 3200 acres (1,295 ha) and includes the original Chase residence and church.
The entire Jubilee College site is still owned by the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The 90 acres (36.4 ha) college grounds are operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....
(IAPA), and the surrounding 3100 acres (1,254.5 ha) of open space are operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cabinet-level department of the state government of Illinois. It is headquartered in the state capital of Springfield...
(DNR).
The State of Illinois offers guided tours of the centerpiece of Jubilee College, the restored 1840s building that housed the school's Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, classrooms and dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
facilities. One wing contains the recreated schoolmaster's office and library, which also features a video theater and museum exhibits about the college.
The Jubilee College site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972.
Though the state park is still open, the historic site was closed November 30, 2008. Jubilee College State Historic Site, as well as 17 other historic sites and state parks, was closed by former Governor Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
to help close Illinois' multi-million dollar budget deficit. The park was reopened by Blagojevich's successor, Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (politician)
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
, but closed again on October 9, 2009.
Jubilee College State Park contains multi-use trails maintained by volunteer user groups. The trails were originated by equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
s but are shared with hikers and mountain bikers.
External links
- DNR official site
- Jubilee College State Historic Site - Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
- Mountain bike trails at Jubilee College State Park