Bishop Hill State Historic Site

Bishop Hill State Historic Site, historic site, Henry county, northwestern Illinois, U.S. It lies about 45 miles (70 km) northwest of Peoria. The village was established in 1846 by Swedish immigrants led by Erik Jansson, who had been influenced by the Pietist movement in Sweden. Fearing persecution in Sweden because their beliefs contravened those of the Church of Sweden, Jansson and his followers emigrated to the United States. They named their new home for Biskopskulla, Sweden, Jansson’s birthplace. Lacking adequate shelter and food, many of the colonists died during the first winter. Nevertheless, permanent buildings were erected beginning in 1847, and the colony soon prospered through farming. New immigrants arrived, increasing the population to about 1,500. The colony became a major regional centre for commerce and produced furniture, wagons, fine linens, and farm products. Bishop Hill, Illinois’s first commune, was under Jansson’s direct control until he was murdered in 1850 by John Root, his cousin’s husband. Soon thereafter a seven-member board of trustees (elected for life terms), headed by Jonas Olson, was selected to make decisions for the community, which was incorporated in 1853. Economic problems and internal dissension caused the collapse of communal life, and the property was divided among the settlers in 1861. Many residents left the community, and the remainder became members of other churches.

The settlers of Bishop Hill were superb carpenters and craftsmen. Several of the original buildings remain, and some have been restored and are open to the public. Among these are the Greek Revival-style Colony Church (1848), the village’s first permanent building; the Bjorklund Hotel (1852); and the Steeple Building (1854), which houses the Bishop Hill Heritage Museum. A new building (1988) features Olof Krans’s paintings chronicling daily life in the village. Several festivals are held annually to celebrate Bishop Hill’s history; among the most popular is Jordbruksdagarna (September), a harvest festival that features traditional agricultural demonstrations. Bishop Hill was designated a state historic site in 1946 and a national historic landmark in 1984.