OLLI Spring 2026_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 11
Root Cemetery with Dave Pittman
Tuesday, May 26
8:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Root Cemetery offers a remarkable opportunity
to explore geology, biology, and human history in
one quiet, meaningful landscape. Guided by David
Pittman, this walking tour invites participants to
slow down, observe, and connect across time.
Shaped by massive glaciers and catastrophic Ice
Age floods, the land reveals evidence of moraines,
wind-blown loess soils, and the former path of
the mighty Mississippi River. As we walk, Dave
will discuss how beneath our feet lies a rare 2.5acre savanna ecosystem, once common across
Illinois, now preserved with native grasses like
big bluestem and Indian grass, wildflowers, and
butterflies that tell the ecological story of the
prairie’s past and future. Interwoven with this
natural history is the human story: Indigenous
peoples, early French and American settlers, and
nearly 150 pioneer burials dating back to 1833,
including Civil War veterans whose lives shaped
early Chillicothe.
$35 – includes guided tour, lunch at a local
restaurant, gratuities, and shuttle transportation.
Seats available: 28
Greater Peoria Sanitary and Sewage Disposal
District
Wednesday, May 27
8:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Greater Peoria Sanitary and Sewage Disposal
District (GPSD) is a special governmental unit
organized in 1927 to treat sewage before it is
discharged into the Illinois River. During our
visit, we’ll learn how wastewater is collected and
treated in the 700 miles of pipes, find out how
the plant treats an average of 25 million gallons
annually*, and take a look at how the laboratory
monitors the treatment process in order to meet
the federal requirements.
$35 – includes guided tour, lunch at a local
restaurant, gratuities, and shuttle transportation.
Seats available: 28
Regional Trip
Spend time with OLLI enjoying travel
throughout Illinois and nearby states. The
price of each trip varies but includes meal,
charter coach transportation, entrance fees,
gratuities, snacks, and tour guides. Please note
– all times listed are approximate and subject
to change.
Earthmoving Legacy Center in Elkader, Iowa
with Pat Sullivan
Wednesday, April 29
6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Join Peoria’s very own Pat Sullivan as we
travel to the quaint Midwestern town of
Elkader, Iowa where the Irish Kelleher family
immigrated in the 1700s. We will begin our
tour at the Earthmoving Legacy Center, a
38,000 square foot facility that showcases the
rich history of earthmoving. Their collection
spans from the 1880's to 1940, focusing
primarily on the evolution of the Caterpillar
Company and showcases early tracktype
tractors from Caterpillar, Holt Manufacturing
and C.L. Best Manufacturing. Next, we’ll
stop at Mobile Track Solutions (MTS) to get a
behind-the-scenes look at their constructiongrade equipment solutions and learn more
about how they design, research, test, produce,
and assemble their products all in-house. We
will also have the opportunity to meet John
Moyna, owner of Mobile Track Solutions.
$150 – includes guided tour and entry fees,
lunch at a local restaurant, gratuities, and
Charter Coach transportation.
Seats available: 44
OLLI members enjoy their time to socialize
over lunch during a recent learning trip.
LEARNING TRIPS
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