Belleville, Illinois Home of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows and the Scott Air Force Base Southwest Illinois News is a weekly news publication spotlighting attractions, events, entertainment, tourism and business developments in Southwestern Illinois. Southwest, IL News Illinois Hotels Alton, IL Belleville, IL Cahokia Mounds Collinsville,IL East St. Louis, IL Fairview Heights,IL Fort de Chartres,IL Fort Massac, IL Gateway Int'l Grafton, IL Lebanon,IL Lewis & Clark Our Lady of Snows Scott Air Force Base Waterloo, IL Wood River, IL St. Louis News Community News St. Louis CitySide Business News St. Charles News Art Gallery News Hotel News Restaurant News Style St. Louis Not Just For Kids Entertainment News   Downtown Map America's Center Busch Stadium Gateway Arch Scottrade Center Laclede's Landing Old Courthouse Union Station   Metropolitan Map Casinos Central West End Clayton, MO Daniel Boone Home Grand Center Grant's Farm Forest Park Kimmswick, MO MO Botanical Garden St. Charles, MO West Port Plaza Transportation Lambert Airport

Veteran's Memorial Fountain in Belleville, Illinois Where History Meets Heritage in Belleville The picturesque community of Belleville was founded by Frenchman George Blair in 1814 and was incorporated as a village in 1819. In 1914, it became the county seat of St. Clair County, replacing the Mississippi riverbank trading post of Cahokia that had been founded by the French explorer Marquette in 1790. During the 1830's, the region was settled by German immigrants, who became known as "Latin farmers" because of their emphasis on education and the arts. Their simple brick architectural influence is still visible in the older neighborhoods such as the "Old Belleville District," "Hexenbukel" and "Oakland". Emma Kunz House Museum, circa 1830 The Germans held fast to their cultural heritage by building a public library, choral and dramatic groups. The Belleville Philharmonic musical society was formed in 1864 and today is the second oldest philharmonic orchestra in the country. The city taken great care to preserve other structures and churches with architectural styles such as Greek Revival, French Second Empire, Queen Ann and Italianate. The Cathedral of St. Peter, located at 200 W. Harrison St., was founded in 1842 and modeled after the Gothic style of the Cathedral of Exeter, England. The Belleville National Register Historic District includes over 700 homes and buildings, including the Victorian Home-Museum and Emma Kunz Home Museum. The Lincoln Theater, located at 103 East Main Street, opened in 1921 as a vaudeville house and later purchased by the FOX Circuit. In 1927, a theatre organ was installed to replace the orchestra. Lincoln Theatre The theatre has been restored over the past 18 years with special attention to the organ. Today, theatre-goers can see current movies and hear the unique sounds of a organ accompanying silent films and in concert. Residents and visitors enjoy year-round activities with festivals, bicycling along the Greenway Trail, sports at the Family Sportsplex, and events at the Belle Clair Fairgrounds. Shopping malls, unique specialty shops and antique stores are conveniently located in the downtown area and adjacent neighborhoods. Numerous cafes and gourmet dining opportunities are popular locations for business lunches and family occasions. The growing community also has a diverse economy with major banks, manufacturing, medical centers and agribusiness. Many businesses are in their third and fourth generation. The Eckert's Country Story & Farms, located at Route 15 and Greenmount Road, is family owned and operated since 1862 by six generations of Eckerts, is the largest pick-your-own orchard operation in the United States. The farm hosts numerous weekend festivals with family activities, a kids' corral and petty farm, and gardening workshops. The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, founded in 1958 by Fr. Edwin J. Guild, OMI, is located on Route 15 at Route 157 in Belleville, just fifteen minutes east of St. Louis. The 2,400 seats and grassy slopes at the Shrine's Amphitheatre can accommodate large crowds for special liturgies and events. Visitors of all faiths and denominations participate in numerous programs year round including pilgrimages, retreats, healing workshops, youth rallies, ethnic festivals and concerts. Our Lady of the Snows' Amphitheatre The Millennium Spire, an 85 foot tall stainless steel sculpture, rises out of a Candelarium built into a hillside above the Shrine's Amphitheatre. The Spire, by the late William Severson, a nationally renowned sculptor, was commissioned by the Shrine to create a symbol representing Pope John Paul II's vision of a new Pentecost. It reflects the light of the sun during the day and is continually illuminated with light emitting diodes (LEDs). Belleville is adjacent to Scott Air Force Base, home to the 375th Airlift Wing. The complex, which occupies almost 4,000 acres with 900 buildings, is comprised of the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, the Army's Military Traffic Management Command and the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Additional commands include the Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency and the Air Weather Service. Restaurants Wineries Hotels Return to Southwest Illinois News Southwest Illinois News & Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group.

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