Leaving Missouri, I was torn between two destinations, one in Illinois and one in Indiana.  I felt pressed for time, having stayed longer than I expected in both New Mexico and Missouri.  I mulled this over while driving, finally coming to the conclusion that I needed to make it to Indiana that night. But not without making a stop first.

As I passed through Illinois, I came upon the town of Chester, known as the home of Popeye.  I had been told about this before leaving Missouri, but some things you just have to see for yourself.

Indeed, there are Popeye sightings everywhere in this town, from the welcome sign out on the highway to murals and gift shops dotting the streets. Especially impressive is the six foot, 900 lb. bronze statue that stands proudly in Segar Memorial Park, named after Elzie Segar, the Chester native who created the popular cartoon character.

Segar’s comic strip originally began in 1919 under the name Thimble Theatre, featuring the characters Olive Oyl and Harold Hamgravy. It would be ten years before Popeye would make an appearance. Originally added as a minor character, his popularity grew so quickly that he became the lead. The series was renamed Popeye in the 1970s.

The people of Chester are serious about celebrating their spinach-chomping hero. An annual Popeye Picnic is held yearly, a major festival that includes carnival rides, live entertainment, a petting zoo, contests, a parade and a variety of other activities. Held just after Labor Day each year, the theme at the time I visited was “Popeye vs. the Spacemen.” Yes, I’m absolutely serious. Yearly Popeye Picnic information can be found here: http://www.popeyepicnic.com/event21p.htm

From Chester, IL, I continued south on Rte. 3 and then turned east, heading for the Indiana state border.