SAS to CHI

Try to picture the land outside the train windows as it might have looked to Lewis and Clark in 1803. They were about to leave the rough, but relatively comfortable, forts and settlements near the Mississippi River and set off west into unknown territory.

Try to picture the land outside the train windows as it might have looked to Lewis and Clark in 1803. They were about to leave the rough, but relatively comfortable, forts and settlements near the Mississippi River and set off west into unknown territory.

Near Alton, Illinois, the train enters bald eagle territory. Each winter thousands of bald eagles migrate to the St. Louis-Alton area, making it the second-largest population of bald eagles in the country after Alaska. From December to March you can spot eagles hunting for fish in the cold waters of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.

Near Alton, Illinois, the train enters bald eagle territory. Each winter thousands of bald eagles migrate to the St. Louis-Alton area, making it the second-largest population of bald eagles in the country after Alaska. From December to March you can spot eagles hunting for fish in the cold waters of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.

You might be tempted to try and see if you can spot a beaver in Beaver Dam State Park near Carlinville, Illinois. Unfortunately you're not likely to have much luck. Though named for a beaver dam that created the park's lake, the beaver is virtually gone from the area now. However, other wildlife-watching and recreational opportunities make the beaver's absence go mostly unnoticed.

You might be tempted to try and see if you can spot a beaver in Beaver Dam State Park near Carlinville, Illinois. Unfortunately you're not likely to have much luck. Though named for a beaver dam that created the park's lake, the beaver is virtually gone from the area now. However, other wildlife-watching and recreational opportunities make the beaver's absence go mostly unnoticed.

Have you ever ordered something from a Sears Catalog? It's common today to shop on the internet and catalogs, and the variety of goods seems endless. Back in the early 1900's there weren't quite so many different styles and items, but Sears offered some surprising options. You could buy a house from their catalog!

Have you ever ordered something from a Sears Catalog? It's common today to shop on the internet and catalogs, and the variety of goods seems endless. Back in the early 1900's there weren't quite so many different styles and items, but Sears offered some surprising options. You could buy a house from their catalog!

Imagine you're out in a vast, grassy field. You see rolling hills of green contrasted by a cloudless and vivid blue sky; there may even be a few sky-scraping trees scattered about. As you scan the horizon, studying each curve of the landscape, you spy something in the sky and suddenly you hear a familiar raspy scream!

Imagine you're out in a vast, grassy field. You see rolling hills of green contrasted by a cloudless and vivid blue sky; there may even be a few sky-scraping trees scattered about. As you scan the horizon, studying each curve of the landscape, you spy something in the sky and suddenly you hear a familiar raspy scream!