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Backyard Journeys

Bishop Hill

Clip | 7m 42s

A village in Illinois still tells the story of its Swedish colonial roots.

In 1845, Eric Jansson led a group of settlers from Sweden to Illinois to escape religious persecution. Arriving in late fall, the group endured a harsh winter. But when spring came, the community of Bishop Hill took shape. Many historic buildings remain standing today and are open to the public to learn about communal life in the colony.

04/15/2026 | Rating TV-G

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Backyard Journeys is a local public television program presented by WTVP

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