 
The Blanding Landing Recreation Area is located eight miles west of Hanover, IL. The
area is open year round and offers seasonal camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, and
boat access to the Mississippi River.
Thousands of years ago, Ice Age Glaciers divided and detoured around the northwest
corner of Illinois. In their wake, islands of rugged hills remain.
Today, the winding country roads are perfect for leisurely drives. Some of the most scenic
drives are along Blackjack Road between Galena and Hanover, and River Road along the
Mississippi River.
In historic times, Sac and Fox Indians lived off the land and started to mine the rich
deposits of the mineral wealth in the area. People from around the world flocked to seek
their fortunes in this mineral wealth. This became the nation's first mineral rush, twenty
years prior to California's 1849 Gold Rush. Galena, 13 miles north
of Blanding Landing, became a center of commerce by the 1830's. Fortunes were made by
people involved in the mining industry. Today, 85% of the towns buildings are listed in
the National Register of Historic Places.
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