Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Peoria is the oldest European settlement in Illinois, set on the Illinois River where it widens into Peoria Lake, about halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. French explorers built Fort Crevecoeur nearby in 1680, and the city grew in the 1800s as a river port, whiskey-distilling center and manufacturing town. Its name comes from the Peoria people of the Illinois Confederation.
Peoria has about 110,000 residents and is best known as the longtime home of Caterpillar, whose global history is told at the Caterpillar Visitors Center downtown. The phrase Will it play in Peoria? came from vaudeville, when the city was considered a test market for mainstream America. Today the riverfront has been revived with parks, restaurants and the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
The city's bluffs offer some of the best views in Illinois. Grandview Drive, which Theodore Roosevelt called the world's most beautiful drive, winds along the bluff above the river, and Glen Oak Park includes the Peoria Zoo and Luthy Botanical Garden. St. Mary's Cathedral, the historic Pettengill-Morron House and the Murray Baker Bridge add to the city's character.
A large museum on the Illinois River combining art, science, history and achievement exhibits with a planetarium and a giant screen theater. It also holds a gallery about Caterpillar's heritage nearby. Allow two to three hours, and check planetarium show times in advance.
Next to the Peoria Riverfront Museum, this center shows huge Caterpillar mining trucks and machines and lets visitors climb into a giant truck cab and try equipment simulators. It tells the story of the company founded in the area. Popular with kids; check opening days.
A Second Empire style house from 1868 in Peoria's historic Moss Avenue area, run by the Peoria Historical Society and furnished with antiques of the Victorian era. Guided tours are offered on limited days. Combine it with a stroll past other grand homes on Moss Avenue.
The Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Peoria, a Gothic Revival church built in 1889 with twin spires, rich stained glass and a beautifully restored interior. Archbishop Fulton Sheen is buried here. Visitors are welcome outside services; dress respectfully.
A grand red sandstone city hall built in 1899 in Flemish Renaissance style, with an ornate interior atrium, mosaics and woodwork. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can usually step inside during weekday business hours to see the lobby and stairway.
The downtown riverfront along the Illinois River has walking paths, restaurants, a riverboat dock, the museum block and the summer events park, which hosts concerts, festivals and a farmers market. Take a sightseeing cruise on the river in summer or enjoy the lit bridges at night.
A historic city park with a lagoon, trails and a pavilion, home to the Peoria Zoo, which has an Africa section with giraffes, rhinos and lions and an Australian walkabout. The zoo is mid-sized and suits families. Allow two hours; summer mornings are the best time to visit.
A large wildlife park west of Peoria with native North American animals such as bison, elk, black bears, wolves and cougars in big natural habitats, plus trails, a train and lodging in cabins and cabooses. Allow half a day. It is open seasonally and on weekends in cooler months.
A free botanical garden in Glen Oak Park with a conservatory of tropical plants, rose and herb gardens, a children's garden and seasonal displays such as the holiday poinsettia show. It is small and quiet. Visit between spring and early fall to see the outdoor gardens at their best.
A winding scenic road on the bluffs above the Illinois River through Peoria and Peoria Heights, said to have been called the world's most beautiful drive by Theodore Roosevelt. It passes grand homes and parkland with river views. Drive slowly and stop at the pull-offs for photos.
A downtown minor league ballpark that is home to the Peoria Chiefs, a High-A baseball team, with affordable seats, a grass area and fireworks nights in summer. It is a relaxed family evening out. Arrive early for promotions, and park in the nearby downtown lots.
A large downtown complex with an arena that hosts Peoria Rivermen hockey and Bradley University basketball, a theater for Broadway tours and concerts, and convention space. Check event schedules before visiting, and use the attached parking for evening shows in winter.
Top-rated local businesses in Peoria, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Peoria? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Peoria? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Bohao Zhao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Boscophotos, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pgjgreen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bohao Zhao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Bohao Zhao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Bohao Zhao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Robert Lawon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Ryan.harms, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joseph Gage from Yorkville, IL, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Todd, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Katherine Johnson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Shimegarner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NatFee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ProfDEH, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Blututh (talk) at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Robert Lawton, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Bohao Zhao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
