Rock Falls in Whiteside County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Illinois and Mississippi Canal

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2014

1. Illinois and Mississippi Canal Marker

Inscription. Construction on the “Hennepin Canal,” as it was commonly known, began in 1892 and was completed in 1907 at a cost of more than seven million dollars. The main canal extended 75 miles from the Illinois River near Hennepin to the Rock River near its juncture with the Mississippi. A feeder canal from the Rock River at Rock Falls joined the main canal 29 miles to the south near Mineral. Utilization of the Hennepin Canal never reached expected proportions because of rapid technological advances in other modes of transportation, and in 1951 it was closed to traffic.

Erected 1974 by Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society and The Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 41° 47.213′ N, 89° 40.605′ W. Marker is in Rock Falls, Illinois, in Whiteside County. It is on East 2nd Street 0.1 miles east of Avenue F, on the left when traveling east. The maker is located by the upper dam across the

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Rock River, on the west side of the feeder canal, near the power plant parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rock Falls IL 61071, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Col. Edward N. Kirk House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lincoln in Sterling (approx. 0.6 miles away); Original Site of Sterling Township High School 1898-1950 (approx. ¾ mile away); Hezekiah Brink (approx. ¾ mile away); Yellow Billed Loon (approx. 0.9 miles away); Masonic Temple (approx. 1.1 miles away); The First School House in Palmyra Town (approx. 6.8 miles away); 82 Rods South of This Spot Was Born in a Log Cabin (approx. 8 miles away).

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2014

2. Illinois and Mississippi Canal Marker

Illinois and Mississippi Canal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2014

3. Illinois and Mississippi Canal

Photographed by Garrett Koch, October 25, 2018

4. Illinois and Mississippi Canal Marker

Hennepin Canal, a clearer view of the lock mechanism design

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 572 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.