Arcola, Illinois: Ben Franklin and Broom
Ben Franklin supposedly introduced broomcorn to the U.S. from France. A bronze statue of him leaning on a broom in the Broomcorn Capital of the World. Unveiled Aug. 13, 2022.
- 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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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.
[Joseph D. Kubal, 09/13/2022]Nearby Offbeat Places
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Ben Franklin's broom connection to Arcola is purely symbolic; he died 65 years before the town was founded.