Pictures of buildings and places in the midwest and Rockford Illinois

Midwest

I live in the Midwest where most people are friendly and have a long history of industriousness and hard work. My hometown of Rockford, Illinois, was settled in the 1840s and was populated by Germans, Swedes, and Scots. Later came the Italians and Irish. The European settlers came and replaced the indigenous peoples and promptly took advantage of the natural resources that the native tribes had enjoyed.

My sketches are mostly of buildings and landmarks around the Midwest, often places I have frequented and enjoyed food and drink.

The Faust and Midway Theater, Rockford, Illinois

Lucca Grill, in Downtown Bloomington, IL. An iconic place that hold many dear memories for people.

Embassy Suites Hotel -- Adaptive reuse of industrial Building (formerly Amerock).

Rockford Watch Factory, Rockford, Illinois

Tri-B Hardware and Supply, Rockford, Illinois

Former modernist bank building, now headquarters for the local minor league hockey team. One of two photos.

Former bank, now a hockey team headquarters. North facade of building looking north.

Iconic and much-loved Gyros stand in Downtown Rockford, Illinois. Located in a former gas station. West facade.

Vintage Brewing Company in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin. Located along the Wisconsin River.

Palace Shoe Service was the place to go if you wanted your shoes fixed in Rockford. Located downtown, their classic neon sign had the cobbler using his hammer via a series of neon lights timed to create motion.

The Rathskeller and its adjacent sausage shop were the finest in German cuisine for miles around. No longer in existence and sorely missed.

The Polish neighborhood had its sausage shop, too. The company was started in 1930 and is still in existence today. Unfortunately, the sign no longer exists.

Craft Creek Brewing Co. in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Briess Malt and Ingredients' elevator and processing facility in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Located on Lake Michigan, it is the largest purveyor of malt ingredients for the Brewing Industry in the USA.

The Nook Coffee shop in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Petskull Brewing Co. in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Rockford, Illinois

The Music Box, Rockford Illinois. A music performance venue highlighting touring acts of a wide variety of music genres.

The Record Mart existed in downtown Rockford for many years. Artist's perspective on color, as I was working off a black-and-white photo.

Abreo and Harvey Wallbangers, two downtown Rockford establishments serving fine food and drinks.

Wired Cafe, and Coffee Shop in downtown, Rockford, IL.

Railroad crossing the Rock River looking West, Rockford, Illinois

Johnstown, PA factory inspired by a photograph by Michael Radson (@mcradson)

Old Rockford City Hall (looking north), Rockford, Illinois

The Gate, Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, Illinois

Burpee Natural History Museum, Rockford, Illinois

Erlander Home and Museum, Rockford, Illinois

Home in historic Haight Village Neighborhood, Rockford, Illinois

McLean County Art Museum, Bloomington, Illinois

Home in historic Haight Village Neighborhood, Rockford, Illinois

Home in historic Haight Village Neighborhood, Rockford, Illinois

Haight Village Neighborhood, Rockford, Illinois

Geri's Hamburger Sign (defunct, fast food chain), Rockford, Illinois