Bishop Hill Illinois Shopping, Dining, Organization & Museum Directory

Bishop Hill,
Utopia on the Prairie

"Where Memories Are Made"

Bishop Hill History
&
Bishop Hill Business Directory

Bishop Hill Business Directory: Shops, Dining, Museums, and Lodging

All shops are open April - December, with Many shops open now January - March
as well! Cabin Fever? Escape to Bishop Hill...excellent walking tours also available by calling
309-927-3899.

Bring the family or friends for a few hours or a few days. Bishop Hill, Illinois is "What Memories
Are Made Of"...whether you are making new memories or reliving "days of old". Bishop Hill park
is the perfect spot for a family picnic with a play area for the kids and plenty of lush grass just
waiting to be reclined on.

Midwest Living Magazine names Bishop Hill as one of the best 100 towns to visit.

Accommodations:

B ishop Hill Fine Arts - Loft Guest Apt: Hosts Chuck Linscott & Sherry Linscott -
109 N. Bishop Hill Street, Bishop Hill, IL 61419 - Telephone: 309-507-2284 or stop in our
shop. Family Friendly! Sleeps up to 5 people comfortably.
The Colony Hospital Bed and Breakfast: Owners Judith & Lowell Gilbert 110 North
Olson Street, PO Box 97 Telephone: 309-927-3506

Museums:

Bishop Hill Colony Church, State Historic Site, Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency - O pen: Wed. - Sun.: 9-5p.m. Site Superintendent Martha Downey, PO Box 104.
Telephone: 309-927-3345;
Bishop Hill Colony Hotel, State Historic Site, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
- O pen: 9-5p.m. Site Superintendent Martha Downey, PO Box 104. Telephone: 309-927-
3345;
Bishop Hill Museum, State Historic Site, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency -
O pen: 9-5p.m. Site Superintendent Martha Downey, PO Box 104. Telephone: 309-927-
3345;
Colony Steeple Building - open daily 10-5p.m., Bishop Hill Heritage Association:
Administrator Mike Wendel 103 North Bishop Hill Street, PO Box 92. Telephone: 309-927-
3899;
Henry County Historical Museum - open Wed. - Sun., Henry County Historical
Society: 202 South Park St. PO Box 48. Telephone: 309-927-3528;
National Archives Building/Vasa Order of America - open Wed. - Sun. or by
appointment: Mgr. Lars Jenner - 109 South Bishop Hill Street. P. O. Box 101. Telephone:
309-927-3898

Dining:

Bishop Hill Colony Baker y - open Wed. - Sun.: Jim Campbell Family 103 S. Bishop
Hill St. Telephone: 309-927-3042 (sweet tooth satisfaction...great coffee also).
Colony Inn: Owners Kevin Yepsen, Todd Hagerty & Randal "Pup" Dennison. Corner of
Bishop Hill St. & Bjorkland St. Telephone: 309-927-3335 (best pizza around)
P. L. Johnson's Dining Room & Gift Shop - open daily: Owner Ann Stodgel 110 W.
Bjorkland St. P. O. Box 105. Telephone: 309-927-3885 (mustn't miss their homemade pies).
The Filling Station - open daily with dinner served 5-8p.m. on Fridays only and
breakfast served Saturday & Sunday morn from 7:30 - 10a.m.: 303 N. Bishop Hill St. P.O.
Box 6 Telephone: 309-927-3355 (the best burgers in town).
The Red Oak Luncheonbord - open Tuesday - Sunday: Owner Trisha Rux 106
Bishop Hill Street. Telephone: 309-927-3539 (everything made from scratch...excellent
casseroles).

Shopping and Local Artisans - many shops open daily 10-5p.m.:

Barnstorm Gallery: Owner Josh Morrissey - 109 W. Main St. P. O. Box 121

Telephone: 309-927-3000

Bishop Hill Colony Store - open daily: Mgr. Sally R. Smith - 101 West Main St. P.O.
Box 92. Telephone: 309-927-3596
Bishop Hill Fine Arts - open T hur. - Sat. from 1 1 -4 p.m. and Sun. N oon-4 p.m. with
the shop often open on Mon, Tues. and Wed. as well....if the lights are on...come on
in : Owner Chuck Linscott - 109 N. Bishop Hill St. Telephone: 309-927-3020 - All gift,
jewelry, artwork, home decor items are handcrafted by talented local and area artisans..
beautiful antiques and collectibles are offered as well...something for everyone.
Bishop Hill Fine Arts - Overflow Location - Antiques, Art & Gifts - open W ed. -
Sat. from 1 1 -4 p.m. and Sun. N oon-4 p.m.: Owner Chuck Linscott - 108 Bjorklund St.,
Telephone: 309-927-3014 - Antiques, primitives, gift items, jewelry, artwork, lamps and
more....something for everyone.
The Bishop Hill Gallery: Owners Jim & Marti - 109 W. Main St. Telephone: 309-927-
3080
Genius Loci: Owner Thomas Basler - P.O. Box 122. Telephone: 309-525-0867
JillyAnn's - Gift Galleria: Owners Jill Ann & Greg DeKeyer - 110 S. Bishop Hill St.
Telephone: 309-927-3130
Mustard Cupboard - open Wed. - Sun.: Owner Cheri Campbell (located inside the
bakery) - 103 S. Bishop Hill St. Telephone: 309-927-3042
Outsider Gallery: Owners Steve & Marsha Carleson - 409 North Erickson Street P. O.
Box 116. Telephone: 309-927-3314
Park Square Crafts: Owner Mary Davidsaver - P. O. Box 126. Telephone: 309-927-
3316
Peasant Works: Owner Lori Keller Morrissey - 205 N. Bishop Hill St. P. O. Box 89.
Telephone: 309-927-3061
P.L. Johnson’s Gift Shop: Owner Ann Stodgel - 110 W. Bjorkland St. P. O. Box 105.
Telephone: 309-927-3885
Post Office: Postmaster Randel Anderson - 107 North Bishop Hill Street P. O. Box
9998. Telephone: 309-927-3595
Sheri’s Quilts: Owner Sheri Wood - 309 North Bishop Hill St P. O. Box 114.
Telephone: 309-927-3851
S w eet Annies - Antiques: O pen Wed. - Sun. 11-4p.m.: Owner Cheri Campbell - 201
W. Main St. Telephone: 309-927-3037
Sugar n’ Spice: Owners Margo & Willard McCurdy - 105 S. Bishop Hill St.

Telephone: 309-927-3818

Summer Cottage: Owner Arlene Rigg - 507 N. Bishop Hill St. (next to Outsider
Gallery). Telephone: 309-927-3359
True Creations:Owner Roxi Schatterman - 204 Johnson Street Telephone: 309-269-
2733
The Prairie Arts Center: 203 N. Bishop Hill St. Located in the Colony Blacksmith
Shop. Telephone: 309-927-3008
The Red Oak Swedish Comfort Foods & Pie Co.: Owner Trisha Rux - 106 Bishop
Hill Street. Telephone: 309-927-3539
The Village Smithy - open daily: Owner Marilyn Nelson - 309 North Bishop Hill Street
P. O. Box 114. Telephone: 309-927-3851
Windy Corner Farm: Owner Beth Magnuson - 508 W. Main St. P. O. Box 185.
Telephone: 309-927-3033
VangHall Gallery: 203 N. Bishop Hill St. Located on the 2nd. floor of the Colony
Blacksmith Shop. Telephone: 309-927-3008

Business wanting to reciprocally link business websites or wish to request their business
listing removed, please contact Chuck Linscott.

Shop
Shown
Here:
Bishop
Hill
Fine
Arts.

Bishop Hill Fine Arts

"Day Trippin" or Want
to Set Up a Tour/Fine
Arts Class:

Check out these websites:

Bishop Hill Fine Arts:
www.bishophillfinearts.com
for fine arts class instruction and
overall info regarding all your
shopping, dining, and
accommodation need, as well as
viewing the current Calendar of
Events taking place throughout
the year in Bishop Hill.

The Bishop Hill Arts
Council:
www.bishophillartscouncil.com
to schedule a group or individual
tour, as well as "enrolling" your
school students in a day trip to
take part in the "Living History"
program.

To view a variety of info
regarding Bishop Hill, click on
www.bishophill.com

Relocation Information:
Thinking of moving to Bishop
Hill or starting or moving a
business, click here .

Website Updated on: April
05, 2010

History of Bishop Hill, Illinois:
Religious dissident immigrants from Sweden founded the communal society of Bishop Hill in 1846.
The charismatic Erik Jansson led the society spiritually and temporarily until 1850 when he was
murdered.

By 1854, a total of 1200 followers of all ages and backgrounds had arrived at Bishop Hill. Over
coming many hardships and trials, 12000 acres of virgin land was improved for agricultural
purposes. Various crops including flax, broom corn, and grain were grown. Orchards were also
planted and furniture was manufactured. Bishop Hill quickly became known as one of the largest
manufacturers of wagons and buggys.

In 1861, dissatisfaction and disillusionment in the breakup of the society and the land was divided
among its members. Many of the homes and building still are owned by family members of
original immigrants to Bishop Hill.