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U.S. 150: West Terre Haute, Indiana,
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From the junction of U.S. 40 and U.S. 150 in West Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. 150 runs northeast for 24 miles to Paris, Illinois.
Cross the railroad tracks at the north edge of West Terre Haute and you'll see a sign designating this stretch of U.S. 150 as the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Highway.
Saint Mother Theodore, the foundress of the Sisters of Providence, a Roman Catholic congregation of religious women, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.
The Sisters of Providence is on the campus of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, an all-women's institution founded by the order in 1841. The campus lies about a mile north of West Terre Haute just off U.S. 150.
You can find the main entrance to the college along St. Mary's Road, just west of the highway, or you can travel a little farther and enter the grounds from the North Entrance right along the highway.
After touring the beautiful rural campus, continue west along St. Mary's Road into St. Mary's Village where you'll find the St. Mary's Supper Club. Housed in a 100-year-old building that has served as everything from a home to a pool hall to a fine dining establishment, the St. Mary's Supper Club offers an extensive dinner menu and the food is prepared as if the owners "were going to eat it themselves."
Returning to U.S. 150 you will come to one of the steepest hills in west-central Indiana. Coal Creek Hill has been the site of many accidents over the years, but those seem to have subsided since the coal mines in the area shut down. Still, it's highly advisable to be cautious when negotiating this hill, especially in bad weather.
Shortly after Coal Creek Hill, you'll pass through a trio of small communities -- New Goshen, Shirkieville and Libertyville -- before reaching the Illinois state line. All are old mining and farming communities.
Just across the state line into Illinois, turn north on 220th Street and drive about a half-mile to see the Allis Chalmers Tractor Museum. You'll find a diverse collection of tractor models from 1914 to 1957. No admission is charged, but you must make an appointment to see the collection. Call (217) 275-3428 to make arrangements.
From here on 150, you may now enjoy a straight shot for about 10 miles, almost into Paris, Illinois, as you travel the Illinois prairie.
Continue north on U.S. 150 (Coming soon!)
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