Utopian Communities of Illinois: Heaven on the Prairie

Download or read book Utopian Communities of Illinois: Heaven on the Prairie written by Randall J. Soland and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2017 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Prairie State became a crucial testing ground for the grand American thought experiment on how a society should be constructed. Between 1839 and 1901, six different utopian communities chose Illinois as the laboratory and sanctuary to elevate their ideals into reality. The Mormons and the Icarians selected Nauvoo. The Janssonists picked Bishop Hill. The Fourierists settled on the north edge of Loami. The employees of the Pullman Railroad Car Company naturally resided in Pullman, and the Dowietes put down roots in Zion. Three were religious and the others secular. All possessed charismatic leaders and dramatic stories that drew attention from across the globe. Randy Soland examines the relationship between these havens and their legacies.