Take historic trolley tour in St. Charles, visit art show

Free historic trolley tours of Downtown St. Charles will be available to the public on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27.

These tours are being organized by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, as a part of the 14th annual Fine Art Show taking place the same weekend. The trolley tours have been sponsored by BMO Harris.

Trolley riders will receive a guided tour of Downtown St. Charles, as docents share information about historical sites along the route. People are welcome to start or end their trolley tour at any of five stops along the way, including 2nd Avenue and Walnut, at the entrance to near the Fine Art Show; 1st Street and Indiana; Mount St. Mary Park; 3rd Street and Cedar; Riverside and Cedar; and Pottawatomie Park.

Dr. Steve Smunt, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission in St. Charles, is working on the historic tours.

“We are very proud of the rich history in our downtown, and are excited to offer the guided tours of Downtown St. Charles as we think it partners well with fine art,” Smunt said.

“This is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the history of St. Charles, rest their feet a bit, and explore different areas of our unique and interesting downtown,” said Sue McDowell, chairwoman of the Fine Art Show.

Art lovers will have the opportunity to view additional art during their ride, as they pass by much of the public art on display throughout Downtown St. Charles. Passengers can step off the trolley in Mount St. Mary Park, where they will enjoy Sculpture in the Park, on display from May through October each year.

Maps will also be available for Art Around the Corner, which begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through June. This program pairs up local artists with local businesses which display artists’ work for the month. Art Around the Corner banners are also visible outside participating locations.

For details, visit downtownstcharles.org.