Cairo, Illinois USA

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Cairo, IL - Gateway to the South

Historically, Cairo was a thriving city. People thought Cairo was going to be what Chicago is now. It is located at the southern tip of Illinois (Ohio and Mississippi rivers), so it was perfect for river trade.

Cairo's history is what makes it unique. I live 1 1/2 hours away from Cairo. I know a little more about it than some people because my mom and dad grew up and went to school there.

The main picture on the left is an old postcard at the intersection of 8th and Commercial looking west.

History 

There were great expectations for Cairo when it was founded in 1837. Located at the lower tip of Illinois, between the Mississippi and Ohio river, was a great city for transferring goods. There were steamboats all along the river for trading goods. The town also had railroads which was also a plus for attracting people to Cairo. It was slowly growing, but did not become what was expected.

Cairo was named after Cairo, Egypt (although not pronounced the same) because of its location by the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Some call Cairo, IL "Little Egypt".

Cairo was centered around an intense civil rights movement. There were many riots and historical events that took place in Cairo, Illinois. My family can tell you many stories of this time period, but there are are books listed below that capture the history of this town very well.

Cairo, IL - Night View of Steamer on Miss. River

Buy at AllPosters.com



Here is a small time line of a few famous people that visited Cairo. For a full time line of interesting things that happened in Cairo from 1673 to 1956 visit Cairo History.

1813: Gen. Andrew Jackson camped on the site of Cairo with 1,500 troops.

1842: Charles Dickens

1861: Generals Prentiss and Grant establish their headquarters at Cairo.

1881: President Jefferson Davis

1907: President Theodore Roosevelt

1909: President William H. Taft

Books about Cairo, Illinois 

Learn even more about Cairo Illinois by reading these books.

Let My People Go: Cairo, Illinois, 1967-1973

About the civil rights in Cairo Illinois. Includes over a hundred black and white photos.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

A Community in Search of Itself: A Case History of Cairo, Illinois

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

A History of the City of Cairo Illinois

Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Present Time 

Even though Cairo itself seems unwelcoming now, some of the people are still very friendly. They are old timers who have been there for years, and will help you with whatever you need.

Many people have left due to the lack of money and interest in Cairo. Cairo is full of history and stories, but has been left in abandonment. It is a sad place to be because there is so much potential and it is not being fulfilled for one reason or another. Much of the city is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

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(Photo taken by me winter 2009)

Greetings From Cairo, Illinois 

The town of Cairo, IL even inspired an entire music album! Preview the songs here and click on them to buy the ones you like!

Cairo Pictures 

I took some pictures in 2009 of some houses and places in Cairo. Click on them to view the larger version. There are more pics on the website when you click through.

Traveling to Cairo 

If you enjoy historical towns, Cairo is a very good place for you to visit for a day. The buildings that have been kept nice that were built in the 1800's are beautiful. There are a couple of mansions (Magnolia Manor & The Riverlore) that you can take tours of, but even the outside of the homes are beautiful. Even some of the older buildings that have been abandoned are beautiful in their way. I've taken all of the pictures below. Sorry for the gloomy weather. We had just had a bad ice storm, so everything looks sad!

Some other sites of interest are:


- Fort Defiance State Park (located right outside of Cairo on the tip of IL). Unfortunately, the park was closed when I went down because of a winter storm. The only pictures I could get were of the outside.

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- Historical Statues and Sculptures

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- A.B. Safford Memorial Library

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- St. Mary's Park surrounded by Magnolia Trees

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- Shemwell's BBQ. Popular BBQ restaurant in Cairo.

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- Magnolia Manor Famous historical mansion that president Grant stayed in. Open for tours.

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- Riverlore

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- Washington Ave More information coming soon...

- Downtown Historical Cairo More information coming soon...

- Riverboat Days (In October) More information coming soon...

- Cairo Custom House & Post Office. More information soon....

Cairo Video 

This is a video I found that has a lot of good video images of Cairo. Next time I visit I will make one because there is so much to capture there.
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Tips for visiting Cairo, Illinois 

1. Don't speed through town. I have heard many stories of being pulled over easily going 1 mile over. I never chance it!
2. Visit during the month of December. The town sets up a big Christmas tree, lights up the town park, and decorates Magnolia Manor.
3. If you would like to see the Magnolia Trees in bloom, travel during the spring or summer.



Nearby Sites of interest:
- Mounds City National Cemetery
- Horseshoe Lake
- Cache River

Learn about Magnolia Manor, the famous landmark in Cairo 

Cairo Illinois Shirts 

Cairo on Wikipedia 

Cairo () is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 3,632 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alexander County. The city's name is pronounced "Care-O" (accent on first syllable).

Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and is the southernmost town in the state of Illinois. The rivers converge at what is the southernmost point in Illinois at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant, making Cairo the only city in Illinois completely surrounded by levees.

It is part of the Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. Several blocks in the town comprise the Cairo Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The Old Customhouse is also on the NRHP.

Reader Feedback 

Have you ever been to Cairo, IL? Lived there? Have a story to tell? Like my Lens? Leave your feedback here.

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  • Reply
    tpoint tpoint Feb 22, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
    Very well done! I remember the time that you and I went to Cairo and it was a very interesting experience! Many parts are comparable to visiting a ghost town.

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Current Weather 

Current weather conditions in Cairo, IL

Local Pollen Reports

54°F (Feels like 54°F)

Last update: 12/24/09 7:42 PM CST

Humidity: 82%
Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 48°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.49in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: N/A From: Airport Conditions
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Tonight


Low
Low: 35°F
Sunrise: 7:08 AM
Sunset: 4:45 PM
 

Friday
Dec 25 


N/A
High: 35°F
Low: 26°F
Sunrise: 7:08 AM
Sunset: 4:46 PM

Saturday
Dec 26 


AM Snow Showers / Wind
High: 37°F
Low: 26°F
Sunrise: 7:09 AM
Sunset: 4:46 PM

Sunday
Dec 27 


Partly Cloudy / Wind
High: 35°F
Low: 27°F
Sunrise: 7:09 AM
Sunset: 4:47 PM

Websites of Interest 

 

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