09/05/2026
This week we look back to the days when a revolutionary form of transportation -- the railroad -- first came to Tazewell County, and when the first railroad spike was driven in Pekin in a public celebration on Independence Day in 1859.
During the first few decades following Illinois’ admission to the Union in 1818, the new state’s growth in population and wealth was in large part driven by steam power. Initially, as we have mentioned here before, men and goods were transported along the waterways and canals of Illinois using r...
