# Yarn Stores & Historic sites--Illinois, Missouri **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826 "2010-07-15T20:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/1 "2010-07-15T20:12:33Z")
So, I’m heading from Madison Wisconsin, down through Illinois and then across to Springfield, Missouri. I love going to historic sites–especially ones with re-enactors (think Williamsburg or Mystic Seaport). I also love shopping for yarn. Any suggestions on things not to miss? I can make a leisurely drive or just drive through and spend my time in and around Springfield. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/2 "2010-07-15T21:51:55Z")
Can’t help you on yarn. But I would give New Salem, Illinois a try. It’s the village where Lincoln lived for five years in his batchelor days. It’s mostly been recreated, but the demonstrations are accurate, and it’s a beautiful area. If you can’t get enough of Lincoln, there’s Springfield, Illinois. Sites a-plenty. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/3 "2010-07-15T23:00:10Z")
Used to be a yarn store in Ottawa, Illinois…site of the first Lincoln/Douglas debate and some nice historical things to see there. Plus, just a few miles east is [Starved Rock State Park](http://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/) with some great trails, the Illinois River and Starved Rock with some great Indian legend/lore. Might be nice to stop and spend a night there at the lodge, or very nearby the park is the [Grand Bear resort](http://www.grizzlyjacksresort.com/) which would be fun to overnight as well. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/4 "2010-07-16T01:56:03Z")
I have no way to judge, but the locals around here swear by the [Ben Franklin in Webster Groves](http://www.yelp.com/biz/ben-franklin-stores-saint-louis-2)for all types of craft stuff. I guess that includes yarn. A bonus is that it’s right off I-44, so you can pop off the highway and see whether it’s worth your time. If it’s not, you jump right back on the highway. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/5 "2010-07-16T13:35:56Z")
I cannot remember the title of it right now, and I am searching for it as I write this, but there is a book out there that is a reference of all the yarn shops in every state. A good LYS should know about this book. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/6 "2010-07-16T13:38:46Z")
[Knitmap](http://www.knitmap.com/) may be helpful. [Local Yarn Store](http://www.localyarnstore.com/pages/shopLists/theList.htm) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yarn-stores-historic-sites-illinois-missouri/546826/7 "2010-07-16T13:56:19Z")
Near St. Louis there’s the Knit-N-Caboodle which is in downtown St. Charles. [http://knitandcaboodle.com/](http://knitandcaboodle.com/) St. Charles was an early 1800s settlement & the original capital of the Missouri territory. Lewis & Clarke started their famous exploration from there. The original main street (cleverly named "Main Street) still has a lot of historic buildings with antique shops, eateries & such. It’s a bit of a local destination. [Discover St Charles | Events, Historic Downtown & Shopping](http://www.historicstcharles.com/history/MainStreet.aspx) . There’s also an event calendar on that site. They do have a historical reenactment in the adjacent park along the Missouri river. But it’s held annually in May [http://www.lewisandclarkheritagedays.com/](http://www.lewisandclarkheritagedays.com/), so that won’t help you now. In St. Louis city itself there’s a good yarn shop called Knitorious [http://knitorious.com/knitnew/](http://knitorious.com/knitnew/). The area around there is 1920s/1940s suburbia. A bit quaint, but not a tourist destination. Either yarn store is within a mile of the freeway (70 & 44 respectively), so they’d be easy side stops if you were passing through the metro area on the way to more rural destinations.