Marion is The Hub of the Universe. Actually, Marion is a city located in Williamson County and its county seat. The city is located in Illinois, United States of America. Marion has a population of 17.000 residents and an area of 14 square miles. The city was created on purpose on August 19, 1839, especially to act as a county seat and to be as close to the center of the county as possible. The area chosen for the town was known as Poor Prairie - a small grassland. The name of the city was chosen to honor the American Revolutionary War hero Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion.
Top Attractions within Marion
Little Egypt Arts Gallery is located downtown Marion and is a beautiful art gallery displaying great collections of painting and sculptures related to Egypt. Some of the artworks belong to local artists and some to internationally famous artists.
Orpheum Theater was opened on January 2nd, 1922 also downtown Marion. In the early 1920s this was the place were locals were enjoying the vaudeville acts and new motion pictures. It had 900 seats and the decorations were in the Renaissance and Neoclassical styles. After a 1997 fire destroyed it, Orpheum reopened with a part of the old building incorporated in a new facility.
Lake of Egypt is a reservoir located near Marion. The lake has 2.300 acres and an 18 feet depth. It is used for recreational purposes - including fishing and water skiing. This is one of the favorite places of the locals to spend time in the middle of the nature.
Marion History Museum is the local history museum depicting the history of the city since its beginnings. The museum hosts great collections of clothing and memorabilia of the first settlers of Marion. Guided tours are available for a better understanding of the history of this great city.
