IL 146 generally follows a land route of the
Trail of Tears, a trail taken by bands of approximately 9,000
Cherokee who were forced to march through southern Illinois from November 1838 until January 1839 as part of a U.S. government mandated relocation. In 2006, the state of Illinois designated IL 146 as a historic highway and route of the Trail of Tears. IL 146 intersects with two U.S.
Interstate Highways:
Interstate 24 at exit 16 near
Vienna, and
Interstate 57 at exit 30 near
Anna. IL 146 passes through an area of Illinois noted for scenic beauty and significant tourist visitation. State-operated parks and recreation areas on or adjacent to IL 146 include, from west to east: •
Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area near
Jonesboro •
Trail of Tears State Forest near Jonesboro •
Cache River State Natural Area near Vienna •
Dixon Springs State Park near
Dixon Springs •
Rauchfuss Hill State Recreation Area near
Golconda •
Rose Hotel State Historic Site in
Elizabethtown •
Cave-in-Rock State Park in Cave-in-Rock The city of Jonesboro was the site of an open-air debate between
Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen Douglas in 1858. The site of the debate is preserved as a picnic area and park in Jonesboro. == History ==