Mount Carroll is a city in the Illinois Driftless Area and the county seat of Carroll County. Founded around 1841, the community was home to the short-lived Mount Carroll Seminary, which later became Shimer College (now a part of North Central College in Chicago) and is today known for its Victorian homes and large downtown, which is part of the larger Mount Carroll Historic District. Much like Galena and Savannah, nearby towns with strong tourist economies, Mount Carroll embraces its heritage and prominently marks its historic properties.

Understand

Mount Carroll began as a mill town and became the county seat of Carroll County in 1843. The Mount Carroll Seminar was founded in 1853 and would later become Shimer College. The college would draw students from across northwestern Illinois and lead to a number of architecturally significant buildings being built at the college, in the downtown and in the community. Many portions of the town are included in the Mount Carroll Historic District with several buildings, including the courthouse, predating the Civil War.

Today, while Shimer is gone, the town celebrates its history and has a vibrant downtown.

Get in

Mount Carroll is accessible only by car. The town is located at the intersection of Illinois Routes 78, 40 and 64.

Get around

The city has no public transportation system but is completely accessible by car or by walking. Given its overall small size, most places in town would be no more than a half hour apart on foot.

See

• Mount Carroll Historic Downtown: Located on Market Street, Mount Carroll's downtown sits on a steep slope and has a number of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops for everyone. Many of the buildings were built in the 1800s and are still well-maintained.

Do

• Raven's Grin Inn: The Raven's Grin is a year-round haunted house operated by owner Jim Warfield. Guests are invited to tour his mansion, which was constructed in the 19th century, and learn about both its and his histories as well as get some frights along the way. Raven's Grin has been featured on Weird America and Atlas Obscura, among others.