Approximately 4000 square miles of high resolution digital aerial imagery collected in Illinois by Ayres Associates in 2014. Thank you to all of our friends for making this year a tremendous success! Throughout the year we’ve collected snapshots of the unique cultural, historical, and natural sites in your communities and wanted to share them with everyone.
There is a lot of history to be found within the 4000 square miles of imagery we collected in Illinois this year. Here are a couple of interesting sites from opposite sides of the State that we found extremely interesting and worth sharing.
Chanute Air Field
Chanute Air Force Base, near Rantoul, Illinois, was established in 1917 as a training facility for the Air Service shortly after the US entered WWI. This base was an important training facility for pilots and support personnel during World War II and the Korean War. It is at this site that the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen, were activated.
6-inch resolution orthoimagery collected by Ayres Associates for Champaign County in spring 2014, using an Intergraph DMCII 140 Digital Mapping Camera.
In the 1960’s Chanute became the principal training facility for the LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile program. The base was closed in 1993. However, it is still operated as a museum and houses many historical aircraft and other exhibits: http://www.aeromuseum.org
Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia, located on the Mississippi River in Randolph County is one of the most historically significant French colonial towns and trading centers in Illinois. While established on the east bank of the Mighty Mississippi, the Village found itself on the opposite bank when the River decided to move in 1881. While still part of Illinois, it is only reachable by land from Missouri. 
6-inch resolution orthoimagery collected by Ayres Associates in spring 2014, using an UltraCAM Eagle.
Kaskaskia was the site of important battles of the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Fort Kaskaskia was destroyed by the British in 1763 and later seized by the Americans in 1778, representing the western-most battle of the Revolution. At its peak in the 1700’s, the Village was home to more than 7,000 residents. The Village now consists of 14 persons, according to the 2010 census. It also served as the State’s first capital from 1818-19. Read more about Kaskaskia’s fascinating history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaskaskia,_Illinois
The “Liberty Bell of the West” presented to the Catholic Church of Kaskaskia by French King Lois the XV, was rung on July 4, 1778 upon liberation of the Village from the British by American forces.
Image courtesy of author: Kbh3rd
(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaskaskia_Bell_3321.jpg)
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