Chester, Illinois

Home of Popeye
Chester is a small town with a big character...Popeye was born here. American cartoonist, Elzie Crisler Segar, created the beloved character Popeye from recollections of Frank 'Rocky' Fiegel, a local scrapper. Popeye made his first appearance in 1929 in the newspaper comic strip 'Thimble Theater. The friendly residence of Chester were preparing for the annual Popeye Picnic (September). Looked like a big deal and I was quite bummed to miss out on the festivities. There are a number of state parks and historic sites if you are not the spinach loving type. If you are lucky enough to do the Great River Road make sure to give yourself a few hours to enjoy Chester and the surrounding area.