The Story of This Abandoned Place Near Galena, Illinois Is Truly Fascinating

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty fascinated by old, abandoned places. A state with a human history as long and storied as that of the Land of Lincoln is bound to have quite a few abandoned places. An unknown number of pre-European-settlement sites may have been completely reclaimed by nature, never to be rediscovered. Others, like Cahokia Mounds, remain as important historic and cultural reminders of the people who once inhabited the Prairie State.

Over the last 200 years or so, abandoned places in Illinois have undergone a transformation, adopting a more modern character. Rather than earthen mounds and inscrutable clearings, many are the remains of homes, buildings, and other structures made of metal, stone, brick, or wood. For the most part, such places are private property and/or dangerous to visit and should be observed from a distance. Some places, though, allow for a more intimate experience. One site that I find particularly intriguing is Winston Tunnel State Natural Area, which is located just south of Galena, Illinois.

A Troubled History

Now lying within a 230-acre unit of Apple River Canyon State Park, Winston Tunnel is an abandoned rail tunnel with a long, troubled history. It was commissioned in 1886 by the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad (which became the Chicago Great Western Railway in 1892) to create a route across what, at the time, was a remote and rugged wilderness. It took 350 workers from the Sheppard, Winston and Co. (hence the tunnel's name) two years to dig the 2,493-foot tunnel by hand. One worker died during its construction, and the tunnel cost far more than expected, so it was already beset with problems before it opened in 1888.

The troubles continued over the next 83 years. The tunnel was constructed through unstable material that was inadequately supported and ventilated. It underwent significant reconstruction on four occasions. The railway looked for solutions to either rebuild the tunnel or avoid it altogether on three other occasions, but could never afford the expense of doing so. The ventilation issue forced the railroad to install a massive fan in 1912, which, in turn, necessitated construction of a building to house its diesel motor and round-the-clock workers to monitor its operation. Chicago Great Western switched to diesel locomotives in the late 1940s and abandoned the fan house, the ruins of which are still standing.

A Fascinating Artifact

In 1968, the railroad merged with the Chicago and North Western Railroad, which obviated the need for the Winston Tunnel. The last train passed through the tunnel in 1971, and it was closed thereafter. Today, the eastern half of the tunnel lies on private property and, reportedly, has been mostly sealed off. The state acquired the western half of the tunnel in the early 2000s, and a trail system now winds through the surrounding area. You can hike up to the tunnel entrance, but it has been gated off due to the tunnel's instability and the fact that rattlesnakes are known to nest in the abandoned bore.

Nevertheless, I'm happy that we're able to get as close to this tunnel as we are and experience this fascinating piece of Prairie State history. AllTrails Plus is an excellent resource for trail maps and information about the hiking conditions at Winston Tunnel State Natural Area. Have you visited? What are some other must-visit abandoned places in Illinois? We'd love for you to tell us all about them on our Nomination page.

If you're feeling inspired to explore more of all the fascinating places in the Prairie State, try planning an Illinois adventure using Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner and see where it will take you.