Some of the truly great and influential authors of the last century have hailed from Illinois. Whether it be Jane Addams writing on the great social issues of her time in Chicago, or Ray Bradbury writing fantasy novels, Illinois has a rich history of literature.

It is important to celebrate Illinois' rich literary history. Below are but a few of Illinois' great authors.

The Dana-Thomas House on 3rd Street and Lawrence Avenue in Springfield was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902. Springfield socialite Susan Lawrence Dana commissioned Wright to build the home after inheriting a large sum of money from her father, Rheuna Lawrence.

April is National Poetry Month!  The month is about celebrating American poets and encouraging people to read and write poetry. It is marked by thousands of events across the state, all of which celebrate poetry. In honor of the celebration, we want to honor Illinois poets.

There have been many great poets who lived and worked in Illinois. Featured here are a few of the best-known. We know there are many great poets out there. Are you an Illinois poet? Submit your best work and we may feature it. IlikeIllinois@gmail.com

Sarah Capps was born, raised and educated in Illinois. She became passionate about art at a young age and obtained an MFA from Southern Illinois University in metalsmithing in 1972. Capps spent eight years teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Eastern Kentucky University before returning to Illinois, where she taught a variety of art classes at Rend Lake College for nearly 23 years. Now in retirement, Capps keeps busy by painting and making jewelry.

Located in southern Illinois, the heavily wooded Cave-In-Rock State Park sits across high bluffs overlooking the scenic Ohio River. The park is named after the 55-foot-wide cave that was carved out of limestone rock by water thousands of years ago.

Steeped in rich history dating back several centuries, Cave-In-Rock once served as shelter for Native Americans and French explorers. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, it was rumored to be frequented by outlaws. This reputation led the cave to be used as the backdrop for a scene in the 1962 movie “How the West Was Won.”