How to Participate in The Passport Program?

  • At each passport stop participants visit they receive a stamp in their passport booklet. Stamps can be collected from August 23, 2019 to August 23, 2021.
  • Participants then turn in their stamped passports to the Canal Corridor Association at 754 First Street, LaSalle, Illinois 61301 to receive prizes.
  • There is no fee to participate in the I & M Canal National Heritage Area Passport program. There is no purchase necessary to receive passport stamps at the passport stops.
  • Passport participants can visit as many stops as they wish, one stop or all of them.
  • Participants must be age 6 or older to receive stamps from passport stops.

How Does Collecting Passport Stamps Work?

  • Participants visit any of the passport stop locations listed in the passport booklet to collect stamps.
  • To receive your stamp, simply enter the passport stop and let the staff members know you are a passport participant. There is no purchase necessary to receive your stamp. After you receive your stamp, the passport stops will invite you to experience all that they have to offer.
  • Passport holders must be present to receive a stamp from a passport stop. No passports will be stamped for participants not present.

What to Do if a Passport Stop is Closed?

  • It is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to plan your passport stop visits during the business hours listed in the passport booklet. In 2021’s environment, it is also encouraged to call ahead to verify that the passport stop is open. 

How Long Do I Have to Collect Passport Stamps?

  • Passport stamps can be collected from August 23, 2019 until August 23, 2021.

What Are the Participation Prizes for Collecting Passport Stamps?

There are two levels of participation prizes for collecting passport stamps. The prizes are cumulative. For example, if you collect all 35 stamps you will receive both prizes.

Collect 20 Stamps – Level I

  • One book “Passage to Chicago: A Journey on the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the Year 1860”by illustrator and historian Tom Willcockson
  • One Grab & Go one-hour bike ride coupon
  • Two entries into the Grand Prize Sweepstakes

Collect 35 Stamps – Level II

  • One Limited Edition I & M Canal National Heritage Area 35th Anniversary Passport T-shirt
  • One $10 Dining Certificate for Lock 16 Café
  • Three Entries into the Grand Prize Sweepstakes

GRAND PRIZE: One winner will receive a private party for up to 70 people on “The Volunteer” the I & M Canal National Heritage Area Mule-Pulled Boat.

To view the passport participation sweepstakes rules click here.

Who Do I Contact If I Have Questions About the Passport Program?

  • Please direct any questions about the I & M Canal National Heritage Area Passport Program to the Canal Corridor Association via phone (815) 220-1848 or email programs@iandmcanal.org

Can More Than One Person In A Household Collect Passport Stamps?

  • Yes, persons from one household can collect stamps in each person’s own passport booklet. Stamps from booklets may not be combined. Each person must have their own booklet to be eligible for prizes.

How Are Passport Prizes Distributed?

  • Persons who collect a minimum of 20 stamps are eligible for prizes. Persons who collect all 35 stamps are eligible for both prizes.
  • To receive prizes, complete the form in your passport booklet with your name and mailing address and mail your passport booklet to:

    Canal Corridor Association
    754 First Street
    LaSalle, Illinois 61301
  • Passport booklets must be postmarked no later than August 23, 2021 to be eligible for prizes.
  • Prizes will be processed after August 23, 2021. Allow 30 days for your prize(s) to arrive.
  • For questions call (815) 220-1848 or email programs@iandmcanal.org
  • For the official participation rules visit: www.iandmcanal.org/passport

How Are Passport Stops Chosen?

  • Passport stops are chosen for their historical significance and locations within the I & M Canal National Heritage Area.

How Do I Share My Passport Stories On Social Media?

  • Use the hashtag #iandmcanal to post your passport stories.

Where Can I Pick Up Passport Booklets?

  • Passports may be picked up for free at any of the passport stop locations or participating Illinois Tourism Offices and Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

Passport Stop Locations

1 McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum • 376 N Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601
2 Canal Origins Park • 2701 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
3 Chicago Maritime Museum • 1200 W. 35th St., Chicago, IL 60609
4 National Museum of Mexican Art • 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago, IL 60608
5 DuSable Museum of African American History • 740 E. 56th Pl., Chicago, IL 60637
6 Pullman National Monument • 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, IL 60620
7 Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • 9800 Willow Springs Rd., Willow Springs, IL 60480
8 St. James at Sag Bridge • 10600 S. Archer Ave., Lemont, IL 60439
9 Old Stone Church & Lemont Area Historical Society • 306 Lemont St., Lemont, IL 60439
10 Historic Downtown Lemont • 112 Stephen St., Lemont, IL 60439
11 Isle la a Cache Museum • 501 E. Romeo Rd., Romeoville, IL 60446
12 Will County Historical Museum & Research Center • 803 S. State St., Lockport, IL 60441
13 The Gaylord Building • 200 W. 8th St., Lockport, IL 60441
14 Illinois State Museum, Lockport Gallery • 201 W. 10th St., Lockport, IL 62706
15 Historic Downtown Lockport • 201 West 10th St., Lockport, IL 62706
16 Joliet Area Historical Museum • 204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL 60432
17 Joliet Architecture & Art Walking Tour Self-Guided Tour • Joliet, IL 60432
18 Intersection of Rt 66 & Lincoln Hwy • Cass Street & Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432
19 Old Joliet Prison • 1125 Collins St., Joliet, IL 60432
20 Four Rivers Environmental Education Center • 25055 W. Walnut Lane, Channahon, IL 60410
21 USDA Forest Service-Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie • 30239 S. State Route 53, Wilmington, IL 60481
22 Carbon Hill School Museum • 875 N. Second St., Carbon Hill, IL 60416
23 Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area • 15010 N. Jugtown Rd., Morris, IL 60450
24 Historic Downtown Morris • Liberty St. & Illinois Ave., Morris, IL 60450
25 Grundy County Historical Museum • 510 W. Illinois Ave., Morris, IL 60450
26 Seneca Area Heritage Museum/Hogan Grain Elevator • 431 N. Main St., Seneca, IL 61360
27 Reddick Mansion • 100 W. Lafayette St., Ottawa, IL 61350
28 First Lincoln Douglas Debate Site • 1028 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL 61350
29 LaSalle County Historical Society • 101 E. Canal St., North Utica, IL 61373
30 Illinois Waterway Visitor Center • 950 N. 27th Rd., Ottawa, IL 61350
31 I & M Canal Boat • Route 351 & I&M Canal, LaSalle, IL 61301
32 Hegeler Carus Mansion • 1307 7th St., LaSalle, IL 61301
33 Historic Downtown • LaSalle 754 1st St., LaSalle, IL 61301
34 I & M Canal Visitor Center • 754 1st St., LaSalle, IL 61301
35 Westclox Museum • 350 5th St., Peru, IL 61354