In 1875 he began painting scenes of Bishop Hill as he remembered them from his youth. But the highlight of the collection is the 40 portraits Krans painted of original Bishop Hill residents such as Lars Soderquist, Sven Bjorklund and Mary Malmgren Olson. Their determined, stern faces exhibit the stubborn toughness needed to survive in unsettled Illinois. As you pull out of the museum, turn left to head into the colony. This is where you'll find the Colony Church, the Colony Hotel, Village Park and the Henry County Historical Museum, along with other historic structures, gift shops and antique stores.
Quilts are a specialty in some shops.
The Colony Church was the first permanent building in Bishop Hill. It was actually used for housing in the basement and on the main level. The simple church was upstairs, with a divider down the middle of the black walnut pews to keep the men on one side and the women on the other. The church hasn't changed much since 1848, although the living units on the main floor are now used for historical exhibits. The Colony Hotel, built between 1852 and 1860, housed the procession of salesmen, journalists, lawyers and other visitors who paraded through Bishop Hill.