Historical Walking TRAIL
EXPLORE beloit’s history & earn a prize
Add a bit of history and exploration to your next trip to Beloit with the Beloit & Beyond Historical Walking Trail! This free, self-guided passport trail leads you through the greater Beloit area’s storied past. With almost 90 stops, the trail spans historic neighborhoods, the Beloit College campus, downtown, the scenic riverfront, and so much more. It’s a great way to get outside and learn about Beloit’s roots.
Here’s how it works
Time to start exploring. Sign up for the free Beloit & Beyond Historical Walking Trail on your mobile device, then save it to your home screen for easy access (trust us, you won’t want to miss a stop!). The trail features close to 90 historic locations, but you only need to visit 20 to earn points and claim your prize. When you arrive at a stop, simply check in using GPS and watch your points add up. Don’t forget to snap some Insta-worthy photos along the way and share them by tagging @VisitBeloit and using #VisitBeloit on social media.
where to explore
Not sure where to start on the trail? Use the digital pass to filter stops by categories like Riverfront, Beloit College, Roy Chapman Andrews, and many more. The trail highlights dozens of historical landmarks across Beloit, as well as South Beloit and Rockton, Illinois.
Here are a few fun facts – and a few places you won’t want to miss:
- One of Beloit’s most famous citizens, Roy Chapman Andrews was an explorer, adventurer, and writer best known for leading early 20th century expeditions through China’s Gobi Desert and Mongolia. He uncovered the first-known nests of fossilized dinosaur eggs, and is also widely believed to have inspired the fictional character Indiana Jones.
- Explore his key locations on the trail, including Moran’s Saloon, the Roy Chapman Andrews Historical Marker, his birthplace and boyhood home, the Sigma Chi Fraternity house, his gravesite, and Vale Bakery.
- Founded in 1868, Beloit College was Wisconsin’s very first college.
- The scenic campus features more than ten stops on the trail that are well worth a visit.
- Abraham Lincoln addressed the citizens of Beloit on October 1, 1859, at Hanchett Hall.
- Find this four-story Victorian commercial building in downtown Beloit on State Street.
win your prize
While all 89 stops on the Historical Walking Trail are worth exploring, you only need to check in at 20 locations or collect 2,000 points to earn a free poster map of Beloit. It’s the perfect keepsake to remember your journey and all the history you uncovered along the way. Once you redeem your prize, the Visit Beloit team will ship it straight to your door. Pro-Tip: Invite a friend to the passport trails to earn bonus points!
Hear from a Beloit Explorer
Katy Erickson, visiting from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently completed the Historical Walking Trail with her family during their summer stay in Beloit, where her husband, Jason, is the pitching coach for the Beloit Sky Carp. “We anticipate our Midwest summers every year. We love the people, local food and drinks, events, farmers’ markets, small shops, and of course, all the history of the town,” Katy shared.
One of the family’s favorite stops was exploring historic homes, including the Anna Pratt House and the JW Crist House. “It’s fun to think about how many families spent holidays in the houses, and how many little feet ran around on the floors,” said Katy. Another highlight was the Indian Mounds at Beloit College. “Thinking of what used to be, and the people that inhabited the area, is such a cool reflection on where we came from,” she explained. Stepping onto the Beloit College campus was a first for the Ericksons, allowing them to experience part of the city they hadn’t explored before.
Reflecting on the trail, Katy said, “The spots on this trail are all places that we drive by every day, without ever knowing the vast history surrounding them.” After completing the trail, the family received a poster map of Beloit as a keepsake. They are planning to frame the poster map of Beloit, and hang it next to their maps of Bradenton, Florida, where they started their family, and Pittsburgh, PA, where they currently reside.
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