What better way to learn about a city than to turn it into a classroom? Students took a field trip to the streets of Dixon on Thursday to learn more about its history and architecture. They toured the city-sized classroom and stopped at sites along the way to learn more about a town that was born during the early 1800s and would grow up to become the county seat and a president's hometown.
– Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
James Dixon talks to Madison School fourth-graders Thursday about the founding of the city 188 years ago, near the intersection of Peoria Avenue and First Street. It was near this spot that the city’s founder, Father John Dixon, operated a ferry service to take travelers across the Rock River. He purchased the service from Joseph Ogee, who established it a few years earlier.
Madison School fourth-graders tour downtown Dixon on Thursday. Groups went from place to place learning about the city's history and architecture.
Fourth-graders from St. Anne's and St. Mary's schools cross Peoria Avenue Thursday morning during the annual architecture tour of downtown Dixon.