Mission Statement:
To Benefit 'Old Bernadotte Bridge,'
Dam, & other Historical Projects
Bernadotte Historical Society
Bernadotte. Illinois
Bridge photo courtesy of John Loebach
Alert! Due to Covid-19. The Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival 2020 may be cancelled if the state of Illinois doesn't meet step five of its five step plan to reopen the state fully.
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival
The Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Associates invite you to come to Fulton County, Illinois and enjoy the natural wonders of the Spoon River Valley. The Spoon River, which starts at Medina, has carved a wide scenic valley through Fulton County as it flows from London Mills to the south and east where it joins the Illinois River near the southeastern corner of the county. Fulton County offers unusual beauty of the colors throughout the Spoon River Valley, which inspired founders to hold the first Fall Festival and to organize the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive. The Scenic Drive’s Fall Festival has been held each year during the first two full weekends of October since 1968.
Beautiful scenery may be viewed while visiting Fulton County as well as the surrounding communities during the Annual Fall Festival. The entire Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive covers 140 driven miles. We welcome all to see the sights, taste the food, see our history, museums, shops, and more on the Drive and throughout the year.
Bernadotte is usually filled when many vendors.
Bernadotte is known for many other historical facilities besides the 100 year old, Iron Pratt Truss Bridge, such as the historic Grist Mill site where the Bernadotte Public Park and Dam are now located. Bernadotte has the distinction of having once been considered as the site for the capital of Illinois, prior to the capital being located at Vandalia in 1820. Vandalia was selected over Bernadotte by the difference of one vote in the state legislature. In addition, remnants of the World War II Camp Ellis Prisoner of War Camp water supply still remain next to the Bernadotte Dam. The huge concrete wall known as the Camp Ellis Firing Range still remains on the hilltop above Bernadotte on Rifle Range Road. The area is also known as part of the historic-Indian Woodlands Period. Artifacts are consistently found throughout the Spoon River Valley near Bernadotte.
The historic Spoon River Bridge is a national historic site currently being recognized, by Landmarks-Illinois, as one of the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. It is number six in the top ten list of endangered places in Illinois. In the past, Bernadotte Bridge has served as a pedestrian connector during the popular Spoon River Drive, which draws thousands of tourists every October and contributes greatly to the county's economy. The bridge area is also well-known for its popular and successful fishing throughout three seasons of the year.