Arcola, Illinois: Ben Franklin and Broom
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- 135 N. Oak St., Arcola, IL
- Directions:
- Downtown, on the west side of N. Oak St., midway between E. Main and E. Jefferson Sts, in front of the old railroad depot.
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Ben Franklin supposedly introduced broomcorn to the U.S. from France, so the Broomcorn Capital of the World has erected a bronze statue of him leaning on a broom. Unveiled August 13, 2022.
Roadsideamerica.com Report... [01/05/2024]Visitor Tips and News About Ben Franklin and Broom
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In front of the historic Illinois Central Train Depot (which also houses the Arcola Chamber of Commerce) stands a svelte statue of Benjamin Franklin leaning on a broom made of broomcorn. Legend has it that Ben brought a broom back with him from his travels in France and found broomcorn seeds within it. The rest is history and today Arcola proclaims itself to be "The Broomcorn Capital of the World," with Ben overlooking the city's downtown district.
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Ben Franklin's broom connection to Arcola is purely symbolic; he died 65 years before the town was founded.