Chautauqua, Illinois also known as New Piasa Chautauqua is a private gated summer resort that started as an 19th century tent Chautauqua. The name Piasa is taken from a Indian painting of a mythical bird, the Piasa bird painted on the bluffs high above the Mississippi River. It is located in two prinicpal valleys on the Mississippi River. It is between Elsah, Illinois and Grafton, Illinois in Jersey County. Today it is bordered by and has access from the River Road. It has functioned as a private non-denominational Christian summer resort for over a century. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Chautauqua Institution is a non-profit adult education center and summer resort in Chautauqua, New York. ... The Piasa or Piasa Bird is a legendary creature that was depicted in a mural painted by Native Americans on a cliff above the Mississippi River. ... Jump to: navigation, search The word mythology (from the Greek μυϑολογία mythología, from μυϑολογειν mythologein to relate myths, from μυϑος mythos, meaning a narrative, and λογος logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to... Jump to: navigation, search Orders Many - see section below. ... Bluff can refer to various things. ... Jump to: navigation, search This page is about the river in the United States; there is also a Canadian Mississippi River (Ontario). ... Elsah is a village located in Jersey County, Illinois. ... Grafton is a city located in Jersey County, Illinois. ... Jersey County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Jump to: navigation, search In Christianity, the term non-denominational refers to those churches which have not formally aligned themselves with an established denomination. ... Jump to: navigation, search As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ...

A recently formed Historical Society is working to integrate the Chautauqua history with that of the surrounding area. It has now been designated as "New Piasa Chautauqua Historic District Illinois" added in 1982.

Today there are over 100 cottages or more substantial homes, many occupied by descendants of earlier owners. Founded in 1885 by Methodist leaders, as was the first Chautauqua in New York, Piasa Chautauqua for decades, even into the 1950’s attracted thousands of St. Louisans and residents of Illinois. Arriving first by packet boat, later by automobile or the trains that ran by as often as six times a day, they were entertained, educated and inspired by such luminaries as William Jennings Bryan, evangelists Sam Jones, Billy Sunday and Gypsy Smith, the Swiss Bell Ringers, Sousa’s band and "Sunny Jim," reputed to be one of the Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. 1885 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... The Chautauqua Institution is a non-profit adult education center and summer resort in Chautauqua, New York. ... Jump to: navigation, search William Jennings Bryan, 1907 William Jennings Bryan, (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) born in Salem, Illinois, was a gifted orator and three-time United States Democratic nominee for President. ... Jump to: navigation, search Evangelism is the preaching of the Christian Gospel, or by extension any other form of preaching or proselytizing. ... Billy Sunday William Ashley Billy Sunday (November 19, 1862 - November 6, 1935) was noted first as a professional baseball player, and then more famous evangelist. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... James Edward (Sunny Jim) Fitzsimmons (July 23, 1874 – March 11, 1966) was a thoroughbred racehorse trainer. ... Jump to: navigation, search Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was the 26th (1901–09) President of the United States of America. ... Roosevelt and the Rough Riders atop San Juan Heights, 1898 The Rough Riders was the name bestowed by the American press on the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry regiment during the Spanish-American War. ...

One 1912 brochure described it:

"Piasa Chautauqua is located less than 40 miles from St. Louis in a beautiful valley between high, massive bluffs with the great Mississippi serving as a guard in front and almost unexplored forest at back, one of nature’s most picturesque spots, unknown to thousands but dear to those who have enjoyed its beauties and regained health from its wonderful springs and its clear, pure air, delightful cool nights, beautiful scenery and outdoor amusements, boating, swimming, fishing, bathing, lawn tennis, croquet, baseball..."

External links

• Chautauqua Network