Momence, Illinois is known as "The Old Border Town". It was established in 1834,when covered wagons roamed the area. It is set along the Kankakee River, one of the cleanest and most beautiful rivers in Illinois, which is still its main source of life today. It used to be the hunting grounds for the Pottawatomi Indians and is better known to many today for the Gladiolus Festival.

Recently, the town celebrated its Sesquicentennial (150 years) at its annual Gladiolus Festival. It was truly amazing to hear that the entire town took a huge undertaking. Everyone traveled through time when the town was first formed. Wars and battles were re-enacted and people got to see how people surviced back then. An estimated 25,000 people came from all over to view this scene.

Momence is definitely one town that is on the map. It is known that one family comes all the way from China to participate in the Glad Fest. It is a very special town to the residents - Old-Fashioned living at its best. Today, not too much has changed. You can still find the friendly families of the first original settlers here.

From this page, you will be able to link to other pages in order to find out information on the Old Businesses in Momence, the Churches here, the First Settlers, Disasters, the Gladiolous Festival, and you will have access to some lost pictures from the town and watch multimedia clips of the town.

So, come along and follow the river through the history of our town

Click the river to enter the site.